Audra Morse

Contact

anmorse@mtu.edu
906-487-3240
Dow 871

Chair, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

PhD, Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University
MS, Environmental Engineering, Texas Tech University
BS, Environmental Engineering, Texas Tech University

Biography

Audra Morse seeks to enhance the world-class research, scholarship, and innovation Michigan Tech provides.

Audra Morse leads the University’s Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering as chair for the past six years—a department with 32 faculty, 8 full-time staff, and more than 500 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students. With the support of the faculty and staff in the department, Morse has led efforts to establish new online programs in structural and water resource engineering. She has expanded enrollment of the geospatial engineering program nearly tenfold, and fostered the growth of faculty research, which resulted in new, increased funding.

“It is an honor to support the people and programs that enable our graduates to take the next step in their life journey, and positively impact society and the world around them.”Audra Morse

Prior to coming to Michigan Tech, Dr. Morse was a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering in the Whitacre College of Engineering at Texas Tech University. She also served as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and led the Engineering Opportunities Center. She received the two highest teaching honors at Texas Tech, the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award and the President's Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Morse is an expert in water and wastewater treatment, specifically water reclamation systems and the fate of microplastics in treatment systems. She is a Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and has served on numerous committees that support education and accreditation. She is also heavily involved in ABET and is currently a member of the ABET EAC Executive Committee. She earned BS and MS degrees in Environmental Engineering, and a PhD in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech.

Faculty Advisor

Built World Enterprise

Research Interests

Water and Wastewater Treatment
Water reclamation systems and Fate of personal products in treatment systems

Recent Publications

Cloutier, Aimee; Yew, Guo Zheng; Gupta, Siddhartha; Dissanayake, Kalpani; Monaco, Paula; Mengel, Susan; and Morse, Audra. 2018. "Modification and Assessment of a Residential Summer Program for High School Women," Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER): Vol. 8: Iss. 2, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.7771/2157-9288.1193
Christenson, D., Sevanthi, R., Morse, A., Jackson, W. 2018. Assessment of Membrane-Aerated Biological Reactors (MABRs) for integration into space based water recycling system architectures, Gravitational and Space Research, 6(2), 12-27.
Oates, R.P., Anderson, T.A., Morse, A.N., Montagner, C.C. and Klein, D.M. 2017. Biophysical Viscosity: Thermodynamic Principles of Per Capita Chemical Potentials in Human Populations, ACS Omega, 2(6), pp 2878-2882. 10.1021/acsomega.7b0061
Lasee, S., Mauricio, J., Thompson, W.A., Karnjanapiboonwong, A., Kasumba, J., Subbiah, S., Morse, A.N., Anderson, T.A. 2017. Microplastics in a Freshwater Environment Receiving Treated Wastewater Effluent, Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 13(3), 528-532.
Sharifan, H., Madsen, H.T., Morse, A. 2017. High Performance in Power Generation by Pressure-Retarded Osmosis (PRO) from Hyper-Salinity Gradient: Case Study of Hypersaline Lake of Urmia, Iran, Desalination and Water Treatment, 71, p. 302-311. https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2017.20555
Sharifan. H., Klein. D., Morse. A. 2016. UV Filters are an Environmental Threat in the Gulf of Mexico: A Case Study of Texas Coastal Zones. Oceanologia, 58(4), 10.1016/j.oceano.2016.07.002.
Sharifan. H., Klein. D., Morse. A. 2016. UV Filters Interaction in the Chlorinated Swimming Pool, a New Challenge for Urbanization, a Need for Community Scale Investigations. Journal of Environmental Research. (In Press).

Research Projects

Jackson, W. and Morse, A. STTR: Sustainable wastewater treatment for long-term space habitation using coupled biological and Ionomer technologies, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Paragon Space Development Corporation, 07/13/2016-06/09/2017, $ 12,900 of $43,000.

Perez, J., Rodriquez, P. and Morse, A. TTU Explore Engineering Summer Camp, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 06/01/16-08/31/16, $4257 of $12,900.

Morse, A., Perez, J. and Monaco, P. E-GIRL: Engineering: Get into Real Learning, Halliburton Foundation, 2015-2016, $17,375.

Morse, A., Perez, J., Fisher, M. 2015. TTU Explore Engineering Summer Camp, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 06/01/2015-08/03/2015, $2619.34 of $13,998.

Jackson, W. and Morse, A. Biological Treatment for Wastewater Stabilization in Support of Manned Space: Further Research Needs, NASA, 01/01/2015-12/31/2017, $44,397 of $147,990.

Morse, A., Perez, J. and Monaco, P. E-GIRL: Engineering: Get into Real Learning, Halliburton Foundation, 2014-2015, $20,097.

Morse, A. and Jackson, W.A. Organoselenium Surface Modification of Stainless Steel Surfaces to Prevent Biofouling in Treatment of Space Wastestreams, NASA/Selenium LTD, 6/20/2014-12/19/2014, $14,311 of $28,622.

Jackson, W.A., Lawson, W., Morse, A., Rainwater, K., Cleveland, T., Senadheera, S., 0-6793 TxDOT, Snow and Ice Chemicals for Texas Roads: Modification 3, Field Testing, 08/31/2014-08/31/2015, $9046.56 of $226,164.

Jackson, W.A., Lawson, W., Morse, A., Rainwater, K., Cleveland, T., Senadheera, S. 2012. 0-6793 TxDOT Snow and Ice MOD 2 Field Trial, 09/01/2013-08/31/2014, $ 13,965 of $99,757.

Morse, A. and Vercellino, T. Selenium Bio-polymer Feed Spacers to Prevent Biofouling of Reverse Osmosis Membranes, NSF/Selenium Ltd., 3/15/2013-2/28/2015, $89,140 of $178,280

Cleveland, T. and Morse, A. 0-6638 Preparing for EPA Effluent Limitation Guidelines, TxDOT, 09/01/12-08/31/13, $13,171.50 of $26,340.

Morse, A. and Vercellino, T. Selenium Bio-polymer Feed Spacers to Prevent Biofouling of Reverse Osmosis Membranes, 3/15/2013-02/28/2015, $89,140 of $178,280.

Karp, T. and Morse, A. Pipelining Engineering, Halliburton Foundation, November 2012, $14,550.

Karp, T. and Morse, A. Explore Field Trips, Halliburton Foundation, November 2012, $12,500.

Jackson, W.A. and Morse, A. Optimization and Evaluation of a Membrane Aerated Nitrification Denitrification Bioreactor for Sustainable Human Habitation, 07/01/2012-12/31/2014, $50,747 of $101,494 and $25,137.5 of $50,275.

Jackson, W.A., Lawson, W., Morse, A., Rainwater, K., Cleveland, T., Senadheera, S. 2012. 0-6793 TxDOT Snow and Ice, 01/31/12-08/31/2013, $ 34,649.10 of $230,994.

Morse, A. and Rivero, I. NSF-SBIR, Selenium Biopolymer Spacers to Prevent Biofouling of Reverse Osmosis Modules, 01/01/12-06/30/12, Selenium Ltd., $24,464 of $48,928.

Karp, T., Fontenot, D., Morse, A. 2011. GEARing Up: Halliburton Robotic Oil Exploration for K-16 Students and Teachers, Halliburton Foundation, $35,000.

Rushton, N., Jackson, A.J., Morse, A. and others, Engineering Support for Extended Human and Robotic Space Flight Missions, 09/01/10-09/30/2012, NASA, $100,000 of $1,000,000.

Cleveland, T. and Morse, A. 0-6638 Preparing for EPA Effluent Limitation Guidelines, TxDOT, 09/01/10-08/31/12, $49,688 of $99,376.

Morse, A. and Jackson, W. SBIR Novel Self-cleaning Surfaces for Biofouling Prevention Wastewater Lines of Space Systems, Lynntech, 03/12/10-08/31/10, $8054.50 of $16,109.

Rainwater, K., Anderson, T., Cleveland, T., Hernandez, A., Jackson, W.A., and Morse, A. City of Lubbock Canyon Lakes Water Reuse Project, EPA/ City of Lubbock, Alan Plummer and Associates, 01/25/10-12/31/13, $9617 of $57,700.

Jackson, W.A., Morse, A. and Song, L. A Sustained Water Treatment System for Long Term Space Habitation, NASA, 01/01/10-09/30/10, $23,122 of $69,436.

Smith, J. Morse, A., Jackson, A., Evaluation of NASA's Advanced Life Support Integrated Water Recovery System for Non-Optimal Conditions and Terrestrial Applications, NASA, 2006-2009 $27590.76 of $919,692.

Morse, A. City of Lubbock Solids Stream Studies of the Southeast Water Reclamation Plant, 2/19/09-12/19/09, $15,000.

Morse, A. Transport Spill Containment for Texas Highways, TxDOT, 2008-2009, $91,324.

Morse, A. and Jackson W.A. RO Membrane Anti-Fouling Effectiveness Test, Lynntech Corporation, 12/8/07-11/30/08, $12,469.50 of $24,939.

Eckstein, G., Jeffery, W., Anderson, T. and Morse, A. Center for Water Law and Policy, EPA Star, 6/1/2007-5/31/10, $96,365 of $432,300.

Budek, A. and Morse, A. Handling Issues for Lead and Asbestos in Bridge Construction, TxDOT, 01/01/07-12/31/07, $59,451.40 of $80,288.

Swift, A., Chapman, J., Rainwater, K., Morse, A., and others. Great Plains Wind Power Test Facility, USDOE, $178,199 of $1,484,999.

Smith, J. Morse, A., Jackson, A., Anderson, T., and James, D. Evaluation of NASA's Advanced Life Support Integrated Water Recovery System for Non-Optimal Conditions and Terrestrial Applications, NASA, 2006-2009 $27590.76 of $919,692.

Smith, J., Morse, A., Jackson, A., Anderson, T., and James, D. Evaluation of NASA's Advanced Life Support Integrated Water Recovery System for Non-Optimal Conditions and Terrestrial Applications, NASA, 2006-2008 $99,200 of $992,000.

Morse, A. and Jackson W.A. RO Membrane Anti-Fouling Effectiveness Test, Lynntech Corporation, June 1-June 30, 2006. $923.50 of $1,847.

Thompson, D. and Morse, A. Transport Spill Containment for Texas Highways, TxDOT, 2006-2008, $76220 of $203,729.

Smith, J., Morse, A., Jackson, A., and Rainwater, K. Evaluation of NASA's Advanced Life Support Integrated Water Recovery System for Non-Optimal Conditions and Terrestrial Applications, NASA, 2005-2006 (Year 5), $168,210 of $1,869,000.

Morse, A. Recycling of Biofilm to Reduce Organic Carbon Limitations of the Early Planetary Base Wastewater, Texas Space Grant Consortium, New Investigator Program, 2005-2006, $10,000.

Morse, A., Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in two unique scenarios in the El Paso Water Utilities, El Paso, TX, 2003-2004, $15,000.

Smith, J., Jackson, A., Morse, A., Rainwater, K., Anderson, T., and Wiesner, T. Evaluation of NASA's Advanced Life Support Integrated Water Recovery System for Non-Optimal Conditions and Terrestrial Applications, NASA, 2003-2004 (Year 4), $111,750 of $2,235,000.

Morse, A. and Jackson, A. Fate of a Representative Pharmaceutical in the Environment, Texas Water Resources Institute, 2002-2003, $5,000.

Morse, A. and Jackson, A. Treatment of Perchlorate Contaminated Water Using Advanced Membrane Reactors, Texas Tech University, Water Resources Center, 2001-2002, $12,000.