Jeffrey B. Taub Environmental Engineering Graduate Student Award
Presented to the Duke CEE graduate student voted by peers who best exhibits Jeff Taub’s maturity of thought and independence, and best integrates past training with the environmental engineering profession.
The names of recipients of this award are inscribed on a plaque displayed in Hudson Hall.
Honor Roll
- 2023: Joshua Prince
- 2021: Alexander McCumber
- 2020: Alexander McCumber
- 2019: Savannah Volkoff
- 2018: Natalia Neal-Walthall
- 2017: Courtney Gardner
- 2016: Carley Gwin
- 2015: Tiffany Wilson
- 2014: Lauren Lowman
- 2013: Lauren Barton
- 2012: Jeff Farner-Budarz
- 2011: Jeff Farner-Budarz
- 2010: David Jassby
- 2009: Andreas Gondikas
- 2008: Zachary Hendren
- 2007: Christine Robichaud
- 2006: Ellen M. Cooper
- 2005: Erik J. Rosenfeldt
- 2004: Hadas Mamane-Gravetz
- 2003: Ki Don Cho
- 2001: Baneeta Sabherwal
- 2000: Ross M. Tabachow
- 1999: Daniel A. Vallero
- 1998: Jennifer M. Armstrong
- 1997: James M. Sperry
- 1996: Banu Ormeci
- 1995: Selim Sanin
- 1994: Aysen Ucuncu Erdingler
- 1993: Dilek F. Sanin
- 1992: Zhenhua Jiang
- 1991: Laura J. Steinberg
- 1990: Laura J. Steinberg
- 1989: Laura J. Steinberg
- 1988: Karen Ann Streich
- 1987: Brian Wilson Baetz
- 1986: Tomas Alan Peel
- 1985: Georgeann Morekas
- 1984: Richard I. Stessel
- 1983: Janet Baker
About Jeff Taub
Jeffrey B. Taub will always be remembered at Duke CEE for his maturity of thought, his independence, and his ability to integrate past training with the environmental engineering profession successfully.
He arrived at Duke in June 1980, changing careers from prominent high school physics teacher in the State of New York to environmental engineer. Jeff extended his knowledge of engineering in general and environmental engineering in particular through rigorous courses and dedication to his research.
With maturity and independence, he applied himself to developing his new career. His efforts were rewarded, and the results of his work at Duke were widely published:
- “Hazardous Waste Generated by the Academic Departments of Duke University” (January 1981) was a report prepared by Jeff that successfully assisted Duke in addressing this monumental problem.
- “Instabilities in Air Classification of Refuse Derived Fuel,” Fourth Symposium and Biotechnology in Energy Production and Conservation by Oak Ridge National Laboratories (May 1982), added to the understanding of the problems while producing needed energy.
- “Instabilization in Air Classification of Fuels,” Journal of Energy Engineering (June 1983), made a major contribution to the theory and application of air classification.
- “Regional Alternatives for Solid Waste Disposal and Resource Recovery in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill” received regional and statewide attention.
He also valued other parts of his life, his fellow graduate students in general and one friend in particular. Each year, Jeff led the environmental engineering graduate students and (some) faculty into battles on the soccer and softball fields. Rumor has it that Nancy Wittenberg, a fellow graduate student at the time, was so impressed with Jeff’s ability to play third base that she subsequently agreed to his proposal of marriage.
Jeff died in an automobile accident en route to a hazardous waste managed facility while working for the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency. Jeff and Nancy missed the opportunity of marriage by several weeks.
Jeff will always be remembered at Duke through the Jeffrey B. Taub Environmental Engineering Graduate Student Award.