Professor & Chair
156 Rich Lab/445B Brackett Hall
Phone: (864) 656-3519
E-mail: dfrodri@clemson.edu
Postdoctoral, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale, 2007–2010
Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, 2002–2007
M.S. in Sciences, Environmental Microbiology, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2000–2002
B.S. in Biology and Biology Education, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 1995–1999
Classes | Publications | Honors
Faculty Overview
Dr. Rodrigues's major teaching interests include environmental sustainability, water quality, environmental microbiology, molecular tools for engineers, nanotechnology, and biotechnology.
Dr. Rodrigues's research is multidisciplinary and involves environmental engineering, environmental microbiology, molecular genetics, and materials sciences and engineering approaches. Her research focuses on the role of microorganisms in engineered and natural environments to enhance water quality and environmental health and safety.
In the role of microorganisms in engineered systems to enhance water quality, her research has two main investigative lines: 1) the use of nanotechnologies for water treatment and their impact on microorganisms; 2) the use of microorganisms, as a biotechnological tool, for the removal or transformation of contaminants; 3) the combination of both nanotechnology and biotechnology for water treatment.
In Environmental Health and Safety in natural environments, her research has two main investigative lines: 1) investigate the resistance and metal transformational role of fungal-bacterial interactions in heavy metal contaminated environments, and 2) understand the role of gut microbiome in health and safety.
Current studies include developing novel bioreactors simulating the mammalian microfluid digestive system to investigate the toxic effects of polyaromatic hydrocarbon mixtures in the gut microbiome and in the mammalian cells. She is also using this new microfluid digestive system to investigate antibiotic nano-delivery systems to reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance and reduction of the release of antibiotics to the environment. Another area of current research is the development of novel technologies to remove heavy metals and treat water, including investigating novel biosorbents and biotechnologies employing bacteria and fungi, modifications of reverse osmosis membranes, and producing new microfiltration membranes.
Class Information
For current syllabi, please search the Clemson University Syllabus Repository.
EES 9610 - Environmental Engineering and Science Doctoral Student Seminar
Selected Publications
1. Ansari, A.; Silva Jacovone, R.M.; Nadres, N.T.; Đỗ, M.; Rodrigues, D.F. 2024. Optimization of batch and packed-bed column Cr (VI) adsorption of an amine-rich chitosan/polyethyleneimine composite: Application in electroplating wastewater treatment” for publication in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. (accepted)
2. Lapeñas, L.A., Peña-Bahamonde, J.; Faria, L.U.S., Luna de, M.D.G, Rodrigues, D.F. 2023. Removing heavy metal ions from wastewater by Chlorella sorokiniana coupled to manganese-doped magnetic ferrite nanoparticles. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 4, 100082.
3. Fanourakis, S.K.; Barroga, S. Q.; Mathew, R. A.; Peña-Bahamonde, J.; Louie, S. M.; Perez, J.V.D.; Rodrigues, D.F.. 2022. Use of polyaniline coating on magnetic MoO3 and its effects on material stability and visible-light photocatalysis of tetracycline. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 10 (3), 107635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.107635. 4. Lupini, S.; Peña-Bahamonde, J.; Bonito, G.; Rodrigues, D.F. 2022. Effect of Endosymbiotic Bacteria on Fungal Resistance Toward Heavy Metals. Front Microbiol. 2022; 13: 822541. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.822541
5. Wang, M.; Cao, B.; Hu, Y.; Rodrigues, D.F. 2021.Mineral scaling on reverse osmosis membranes: role of mass, orientation, and crystallinity on permeability. Environmental Science and Technology. 55 (23), 16110-16119. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04143.
6. SK Fanourakis, SQ Barroga, JVD Perez, L He, DF Rodrigues. 2021. In Situ Polymerization of Polypyrrole and Polyaniline on the Surface of Magnetic Molybdenum Trioxide Nanoparticles: Implications for Water Treatment. ACS Applied Nano Materials 4 (11), 12415-12428. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.1c02873.
7. G Herrera, J Pena-Bahamonde, S Paudel, DF Rodrigues. 2021. The role of nanomaterials and antibiotics in microbial resistance and environmental impact: an overview. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering 33, 100707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coche.2021.100707 (invited paper)
8. Ansari, Ali; Peña-Bahamonde, J., Wang, M.; Shaffer, D.L.; Hu, Y.; Rodrigues, D.F. 2021. Polyacrylic acid-brushes tethered to graphene oxide membrane coating for simultaneous scaling and biofouling mitigation on reverse osmosis membranes. J. Membrane Sci. V630, 119308, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119308.
9. Paudel, S.; Peña-Bahamonde, J., Shakiba, S.; Astete, C.E.; Louie, S.M.; Sabliov, C.M.; Rodrigues, D.F. 2021.Prevention of infection caused by enteropathogenic E.coli O157:H7 in intestinal cells using enrofloxacin entrapped in polymer-based nanocarriers. J. Hazardous Materials. Vol. 414, 125454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125454.
10. Gracioso, L.H.; Peña-Bahamonde, J.; Karolski, B.; Perpetuo, Elen Aquino; Nascimento; C.A.O.; Hashiguchi, H.; Lacerda, J.T.; Juliano, M.A.; Hernandez, F.C. R.; Rodrigues, D.F. 2021. Copper Mining Bacteria: Converting toxic copper ions into a stable single-atom copper. Sciences Advances. 7 (17), eabd9210. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abd9210
Awards & Honors
- Marvis A. Richardson Fellowship (USA) (2006)
- ASCE ExCEEd Fellowship (USA) (2011)
- Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award from the University of Houston Commission on Women (2013)
- UH Cullen College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award (2013)
- UH President's letter of appreciation for my commitment to the institution and UH students (2014)
- Recipient of the Certificate of Appreciation from the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship for supporting and mentoring undergraduate students (2014)
- Recipient of Certificate of Excellence in recognition of extraordinary achievements by the UH Provost (2014)
- NSF RET (Research Experience for Teachers) outreach Program earned the Spot on the U.S. President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll (2014)
- Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization Emerging Investigator Award (2014)
- U.S. Dept. of Energy C3E Research Award (2016)
- Civil/Environmental Award honoree for the 28th HENAAC Conference (2016)
- Certificate of Outstanding Reviewer for Environmental Science: Nano Journal (2017) – selected top 10 reviewer for the journal.
- Outstanding Reviewer for the Environmental Science & Engineering Journal of the year (2017)
- NAE’s 2017 USFOE nominee and participant
- Outstanding Reviewer for the Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology Journal (2018) – selected top 10 reviewer.
- Recipient of the Abraham Dukler Distinguished Faculty Award (2019)
- UH Award of Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (2020)
- AEESP Distinguished Service Award (2020)
- Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials (2020)
- AEESP Distinguished Service Award as President of the organization (2024)
