Dr. Matthew Blair
Assistant Professor (August 2025)
Contact
- 2019 H.M. Comer
Research Areas
Education
- B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mississippi State University, 2015
- M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2017
- Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2023
Dr. Matthew (Matt) Blair is an assistant professor in the department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at The University of Alabama.
Currently, Matt’s research interests lie at the intersection of applied environmental microbiology and environmental engineered systems. His research focus is rooted in the development and application of advanced molecular techniques to explore and optimize underlying microbial dynamics present in engineered systems. This includes the study of microbial ecology, functional genomics, and microbial contaminants such as pathogens and/or antibiotic resistance. Thus far, Matt’s interests have been heavily focused on environments related the ‘one water’ concept, including: drinking water and wastewater treatment, water reuse, water quality, biological filtration, and the protection of environmental source waters.
Matt earned a bachelor’s in civil and environmental engineering from Mississippi State University before attending graduate school at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he completed his master’s and doctorate in the department of civil and environmental engineering. Prior to starting at University of Alabama, Matt has also held postdoctoral positions at Virginia Tech and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG).
Affiliated Areas
Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Water Reuse Environmental Microbiology Fate of Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance Advanced Molecular Techniques
Selected Publications
- Blair, M. F., Garner, E., Ji, P., & Pruden, A. (2024). What is the Difference between Conventional Drinking Water, Potable Reuse Water, and Nonpotable Reuse Water? A Microbiome Perspective. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(38), 16877-16890.
- Blair, M. F., Vaidya, R., Salazar-Benites, G., Bott, C. B., & Pruden, A. (2024). Relating microbial community composition to treatment performance in an ozone-biologically active carbon filtration potable reuse treatment train. Water Research, 262, 122091.
- Blair, M. F., Vaidya, R., Salazar‐Benites, G., Schimmoller, L., Nading, T., Wilson, C., … & Bott, C. (2023). Biodegradable dissolved organic carbon profiling reveals capacity of carbon‐based potable reuse treatment over a range of operating conditions. AWWA Water Science, 5(5), e1355.
- Garner, E., Davis, B. C., Milligan, E., Blair, M. F., Keenum, I., Maile-Moskowitz, A., … & Pruden, A. (2021). Next generation sequencing approaches to evaluate water and wastewater quality. Water Research, 194, 116907.
- Blair, M. F., Kokabian, B., & Gude, V. G. (2014). Light and growth medium effect on Chlorella vulgaris biomass production. Journal of environmental chemical engineering, 2(1), 665-674.