John Woolschlager, Ph.D.

Director of the Emergent Technologies Institute, Director of Engineering Graduate Programs, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Backe Chair and Eminent Scholar, Florida Gulf Coast University, FGCU

John Woolschlager, Ph.D. joined the U. A. Whitaker College of Engineering in August of 2016 as the Backe Chair, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Director of the Emergent Technologies Institute (ETI), and Director of Engineering Graduate programs. Dr. Woolschlager’s major responsibilities as the Backe Chair will include leading the continued development of a university-wide Emergent Technologies Institute, significantly increasing collaborative external research funding, leading the development of new graduate engineering programs, organizing and conducting outreach activities, and supporting the efforts to attract industry partners in renewable energy and other technologies to Southwest Florida.

Dr. Woolschlager has Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Prior to joining FGCU, Dr. Woolschlager was the Director of the Center for Sustainability at Saint Louis University (SLU), an interdisciplinary graduate degree granting unit. Dr. Woolschlager joined SLU as the Founding Chair of a new department of Civil Engineering in 2010 and he led that program  through its initial ABET accreditation. Dr. Woolschlager held prior faculty appointments at Arizona State University and the University of North Florida.

Dr. Woolschlager’s research focus on biotechnology using complex models to simulate biological, chemical, and physical processes. Dr. Woolschlager applies his modeling work to water quality, environmental systems optimization, and bioenergy projects. Some examples of his funded projects include the neural-network optimization of urban drinking water systems to improve water quality and save energy; process optimization of wastewater treatment plants to achieve nutrient pollution reduction and reduce energy consumption; applied research addressing global energy and sanitation issues in developing nations; and analysis of regional sustainability issues using advanced GIS modeling tools to create smarter, more energy efficient and sustainable cities.