Marc A. Deshusses

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dr. Deshusses' research interests are related to the design, analysis and application of remediation, waste to energy and decentralized sanitation processes. A current focus is on novel reactors and processes for air, water and solid wastes treatment. Applications include treatment of odors and air toxics, biogas production, and novel sanitation and treatment technologies. Research interests include bioenergy and waste to energy processes, biofilms, biomolecular techniques for monitoring microorganisms in complex environments, indoor air quality, advanced oxidation processes, nanosensors, and mathematical modeling of environmental processes.

Appointments and Affiliations

• Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke Kunshan University
• Research Professor of Global Health
• Faculty Network Member of The Energy Initiative

Contact Information

• Office Location: 127C Hudson Hall, Durham, NC 27708
• Office Phone: (919) 660-5480
• Email Address: marc.deshusses@duke.edu
• Websites:
  • Deshusses lab
  • SCWO sanitation project

Education

• Ph.D. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Switzerland), 1994

Research Interests

Design, analysis and application of remediation, waste-to-energy and decentralized sanitation processes, including novel reactors and processes for air, water and solid wastes treatment.

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

• AAAS Fellow. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 2006

Courses Taught

• CEE 294: Research Independent Study in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CEE 394: Research Independent Study in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CEE 462L: Biological Principles in Environmental Engineering
• CEE 490: Special Topics in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CEE 493: Research Independent Study in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CEE 562: Biological Processes in Environmental Engineering
• CEE 690: Advanced Topics in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CEE 691: Independent Study: Advanced Topics in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CEE 692: Independent Study: Advanced Topics in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CEE 780: Internship

In the News

• Studying Disease-Carrying Pathogens in Cities With Poor Sanitation (Aug 23, 2019 | Pratt School of Engineering)
• Reinventing the Toilet (Nov 5, 2018 | Duke Stories)
• Duke, RTI International Partner on Improved Global Sanitation (Aug 28, 2017)
• Energy Initiative Provides First Round of Research Seed Funding (Apr 16, 2014)
• Adventures in Synthetic Poop (Feb 6, 2014 | Duke Research Blog)
• Duke researchers design toilet that turns waste into drinking water (Jul 18, 2013 | WUNC Radio)

Representative Publications

• Rocha-Melogno, L; Ginn, O; Bailey, ES; Soria, F; Andrade, M; Bergin, MH; Brown, J; Gray, GC; Deshusses, MA, Bioaerosol sampling optimization for community exposure assessment in cities with poor sanitation: A one health cross-sectional study., The Science of the Total Environment, vol 738 (2020) [10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139495] [abs].
• Rocha-Melogno, L; Ginn, O; Bailey, ES; Soria, F; Andrade, M; Bergin, MH; Brown, J; Gray, GC; Deshusses, MA, Bioaerosol sampling optimization for community exposure assessment in cities with poor sanitation: A one health cross-sectional study., The Science of the Total Environment, vol 738 (2020) [10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139495] [abs].
• Dupnock, TL; Deshusses, MA, Biological Co-treatment of H2S and reduction of CO2 to methane in an anoxic biological trickling filter upgrading biogas., Chemosphere, vol 256 (2020) [10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127078] [abs].
• Forbis-Stokes, AA; Miller, GH; Segretain, A; Rabarison, F; Andriambololona, T; Deshusses, MA, Nutrient removal from human fecal sludge digestate in full-scale biological filters., Chemosphere, vol 257 (2020) [10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127219] [abs].
• López de León, LR; Deaton, KE; Junkin, J; Deshusses, MA, Capillary microbioreactors for VOC vapor treatment: Impacts of operating conditions., Chemosphere, vol 258 (2020) [10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127286] [abs].