Pooyan Nejadashemi has been appointed Director of the Water Research Institute, effective October 15, 2024.
EAST LANSING, MI — Michigan State University Research Foundation Professor Pooyan Nejadashemi has been appointed director of the MSU Institute for Water Research (IWR), effective October 15, 2024.
This position is a 50% appointment and Mr. Nejadashemi will continue to serve as a professor in the Department of Biological Systems and Agricultural Engineering and the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences. His research is partially supported by MSU AgBioResearch.
Pouyan Nejadashemi, MSU Research Foundation Professor and new IWR director.
As an ecohydrology expert who examines how water interacts with ecosystems, his research uses cutting-edge tools to model water use and machine learning to We address issues such as monitoring per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals in drinking water.
Nejadashemi’s world-renowned research program has received significant funding, including grants from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. .
As IWR Director, Mr. Nejadashemi will provide strategic vision and oversight of the institute’s efforts to strengthen IWR’s academic activities and strengthen its reputation at the local, state, and national levels. One of his primary responsibilities is to foster a culture of transparency, diversity, equity and inclusion within IWR.
He collaborates with MSU’s water research community, state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, tribal organizations, and other stakeholders on water access, availability, and water quality issues in Michigan, the Great Lakes region, and beyond. , will continue to cooperate with external people.
In addition to his administrative duties, Mr. Nejadashemi will be responsible for obtaining and increasing funding for the IWR effort, as well as serving as principal investigator on new research projects.
“We are fortunate to have Pooyan in this position given his extensive expertise in water research and ecohydrology,” said George, director of AgBioResearch, who will oversee Nejadashemi in the IWR role. Smith said. “He has been successful in developing impactful water research, and his leadership is critical to IWR’s growth and future. We look forward to partnering with him to expand IWR’s reach.” ”
IWR is one of 54 water research institutes nationwide established under the Water Resources Investigation Act of 1964 and is funded by the U.S. Geological Survey.
The organization is dedicated to developing science-based technologies, research, educational programs, and partnerships to help understand and address critical water issues. Current IWR research and advocacy efforts examine groundwater management risks and opportunities, develop methods to improve water quality for agriculture and communities, investigate PFAS risks and mitigation, and reduce nutrient runoff and harmful Topics include reducing algae blooms and protecting Michigan’s lakes and rivers.
“I am honored to have been appointed IWR Director, a position of great strategic importance to MSU’s research and support now and in the future,” Nejadashemi said. “Understanding more about how we use water and the threats to water availability and water quality is of paramount importance, not only to Michigan, but to the world. Our state is close to the abundant fresh water of the Great Lakes region; It is our responsibility to ensure that this precious resource is actively managed and protected.”
Prior to Nejadashemi’s appointment, Dana Infante, director of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, served as interim IWR director.
Scientists at Michigan State University’s AgBioResearch are discovering dynamic solutions for food systems and the environment. More than 300 MSU faculty members conduct cutting-edge research on topics ranging from health and climate to agriculture and natural resources. Originally founded in 1888 as the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU AgBioResearch oversees numerous on-campus research facilities and 15 suburban centers throughout Michigan. For more information, visit agbioresearch.msu.edu.
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