Morteza Abbaszadegan is a professor of environmental microbiology and engineering and founding director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Water & Environmental Technology (WET) Center at Arizona State University. The center provides a platform to address issues as diverse as water quality by capitalizing the strengths of partner organizations. He joined the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment in 1999 after spending more than six years as a microbiology research manager in private industry. He developed three different courses for the program including an Environmental Microbiology course (CEE 467/567) for engineers.
Professor Abbaszadegan's research expertise includes: contemporary water quality issues related to health-related water microbiology including microbial detection methodologies, pathogens inactivation and removal mechanisms during water treatment processes, water quality in water distribution systems and microbial monitoring of source waters. He has developed many new techniques for the detection of viruses, bacteria and parasites in water environments.
Professor Abbaszadegan has authored more than 100 research manuscripts, book chapters and reports in the area of environmental microbiology and engineering. He serves as editor of the Journal of Water and Health, an IWA publishing. He has also served on several national and international committees and currently is the chair, Section 9510, Detection of Enteric Viruses for Standard Methods. He received the Outstanding Research Team Award from the University of Arizona.
Education
Ph.D. Program in Nutritional Sciences/Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arizona. Dissertation: Detection of Giardia Cysts by a cDNA Probe and Application to Water Samples
M.S. Science in Applied Microbiology, Northern Arizona University. Thesis: Commensal Relationship between Group a Streptococci and Neisseria subflava and Riboflavin Production by Neisseriasubflava
B.S. Microbiology, University of Montana
Research Interests
Research Expertise: Contemporary water quality issues related to health-related water microbiology including microbial detection methodologies, pathogens inactivation and removal mechanisms during water treatment processes, water quality in water distribution systems and microbial monitoring of source waters. He has developed many new techniques for the detection of viruses, bacteria and parasites in water environments.
Honors and Distinctions: Abbaszadegan has authored more than 100 research manuscripts, book chapters and reports in the area of environmental microbiology and engineering. He serves as Editor of the Journal of Water and Health, an IWA publishing, and successfully established NSF Centers in Water Quality and Environmental Technology at ASU. He has also served on several national and international committees and currently is the Chair, Section 9510, Detection of Enteric Viruses for Standard Methods. Abbaszadegan received the Outstanding Research Team Award, University of Arizona.
Selected Publications: See my CV
Research Activity
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Collaborative Research: Industry University Cooperative Research Center: Water and Environmental Technology Center (Phase II). NSF-IIP(4/15/2014 - 3/31/2019).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*, Alum,Absar. Legionella- How Big is a Threat to Groundwater under High Recharge Conditions (ASUF 30005948). ASU FDN(1/1/2014 - 12/31/2014).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WET Membership: Coating Systems Laboratories. COATING SYSTEMS LAB, INC(3/1/2012 - 2/28/2013).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WET Membership: SALT Institute. Salt(12/1/2011 - 11/30/2012).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WET Center Membership: Shell Global Solution. SHELL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC(1/1/2011 - 12/31/2011).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WET Center Membership: Central Arizona Project. CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT(1/1/2011 - 12/31/2011).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WET Membership: City of Glendale. GLENDALE(10/1/2010 - 9/30/2011).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WET Center Membership: City of Peoria. CITY OF PEORIA(10/1/2010 - 9/30/2011).
Fox,Peter*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza. Antimicrobial-Coated Granular Filter Media for Drinking Water Treatment. COATING SYSTEMS LAB, INC(4/15/2010 - 10/15/2010).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WET Center Membership: City of Scottsdale. CITY OF SCOTTSDALE(3/8/2010 - 3/7/2011).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Control of Disinfection By-Products (DBP's) in Drinking Water Distribution Systems. AWI-Arizona Water Institute(3/1/2009 - 5/31/2011).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Collaborative Research: IndustryUniversity Cooperative Research Center: Water and Environmental Technology Center. NSF-IIP(2/15/2009 - 1/31/2014).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Consultants for Environmental Systems Technologies -Water Quality Center Membership Fee. CFEST(1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Shell Global Solutions 2009 Water Quality Membership. SHELL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC(1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC membership 2009 - Bureau of Reclamation. DOI-BOR(1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Development of Real-Time Quantitative PCR Specific to Bacteroides 16S RRNA Genetic Markers. USDA-ARS(9/30/2008 - 8/14/2010).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Membership Fees for Layne Christensen Company - 2008/2009. Layne Christensen Company(6/1/2008 - 5/31/2010).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Membership for the City of Peoria - 2008. CITY OF PEORIA(6/1/2008 - 12/31/2008).
Brown,Albert Frederick*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza, Rittmann,Bruce Edward. Evaluation of Proposed Operational Practices for Naegleria fowleri in Arizona Drinking Water Systems. AWI-Arizona Water Institute(2/21/2008 - 12/31/2009).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Control of DBP's by Enhanced Coagulation. CITY OF TEMPE(1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Membership fee from CONTECH Stormwater Solutions, Inc. - 2008. CONTECH(1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008).
Westerhoff,Paul*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza. Water Quality Membership Fee (AwwaRF) 2008-2009. (Related to: A New Water Source: Can Fuel Cells Provide Safe & Cost-Effective Potable Water Sources?). AWWA RESEARCH FDN(1/1/2008 - 12/31/2009).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Membership Fee from Severn Trent Water Purification, Inc. (2008). SEVERN TRENT WATER PURIFICATIO(1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Membership Fee from the City of Tempe, AZ. - 2008. CITY OF TEMPE(1/1/2008 - 12/31/2009).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Membership Fee for HDR Engineering - 2008. H D R, INC(1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Membership Fee for City of Scottsdale 2009. CITY OF SCOTTSDALE(1/1/2008 - 12/31/2009).
Fox,Peter*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza. Removal of Bacteria from Simulated Stormwater. CONTECH(11/1/2007 - 3/31/2010).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Center membership fee from Brimac Inc. Brimac(8/1/2007 - 7/31/2008).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Membership fee from Crystal Clear Technologies Inc. CCT, INC(8/1/2007 - 7/31/2008).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Membership Fee from City of Glendale, AZ. GLENDALE(8/1/2007 - 7/31/2008).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Membership Fee from Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc. 2007 & 2008. SHELL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC(8/1/2007 - 12/31/2008).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Continuation of An Industry - University Collaborative Research Center (I-UCRC) Site at ASU. NSF-ENG(6/1/2007 - 5/31/2010).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Continuation of the Biosensor Development for the Detection of Bacteria in Water. BioSense(6/1/2007 - 3/31/2010).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*, Herckes,Pierre E H. Tracers for Water Flow and Bio-Physicochemical Constituent Transport. H D R, INC(2/1/2007 - 6/30/2008).
Westerhoff,Paul*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza, Rittmann,Bruce Edward. Organic Chloramine Formation in Water Distribution Systems and Influence on Nitrification and Disinfection Efficacy. AWWA RESEARCH FDN(10/1/2006 - 2/1/2010).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Membership Fee for AwwaRF (2006-2007) (Related to XCS0173). AWWA RESEARCH FDN(10/1/2006 - 12/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*, Alum,Absar. Methods to Assess GWUDI and Bank Filtration Performance. AWWA RESEARCH FDN(8/1/2006 - 4/1/2010).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Center Membership Support by Litree, China. Litree(7/1/2006 - 6/30/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Effect of Chlorination and Rechlorination on Taste and Odor in Drinking Water Distribution Systems. CITY OF TEMPE(6/30/2006 - 12/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. BioSensor Development and Performance Evaluation. BioSense(6/1/2006 - 12/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Center Membership, Arcadis G&M. ARCADIS(6/1/2006 - 5/31/2007).
Kavazanjian,Edward*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza, Rittmann,Bruce Edward. SGER: Biological Improvement of the Mechanical Properties of Soils. NSF-ENG(2/1/2006 - 7/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Membership from BioSense International Inc. BioSense(1/1/2006 - 12/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Center Membership, Central Arizona Project. CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT(1/1/2006 - 12/31/2006).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Shell Global Solutions - WQC Membership 2006. SHELL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC(1/1/2006 - 12/31/2006).
Fox,Peter*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza. Inland Brine Treatment Strategies for Water Reclamation Systems. AWWA RESEARCH FDN(4/1/2005 - 2/1/2009).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Improved Methods for Virus Detection in Biosolids. UNIV OF CINCINNATI(4/1/2005 - 3/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Support from Shell Global Solutions Inc. (Year 1 Membership). SHELL GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC(1/1/2005 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Membership 2005-2006 DOW Chemical Company. DOW CHEMICAL CO(1/1/2005 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Support from Severn Trent Water Purification, Inc. SEVERN TRENT WATER PURIFICATIO(1/1/2005 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Microbial Source Tracking in the Rio Grande. EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE(1/1/2005 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WQC Support from Global Prevention Services, Inc. Global Prevention Svcs, Inc(11/1/2004 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. To Evaluate the Potential for Microbial Growth in Construction Materials. Global Prevention Svcs, Inc(11/1/2004 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Water Quality Center Support for Solmetex. Solmetex(9/15/2004 - 12/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. SCERP: Identification of Microbial Water Quality Bio-markers in the New River. UNIV OF UTAH(6/1/2004 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. BIOSOLIDS SAMPLE PROCESSING FOR ANALYSES OF PATHOGENS. WATER ENVIRON RESEARCH FDN(4/1/2004 - 12/31/2006).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. Treatment Efficiencies for CCL Microbial Contaminants Program. UNIV OF AZ(3/16/2004 - 6/30/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. GENOTYPING THE INDIGENOUS BACTERIOPHAGE MICROFLORA OF SOURCE WATERS IN AZ. CITY OF TEMPE(7/1/2003 - 6/30/2007).
Peccia,Jordan Lee*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza, Calhoun,Ronald Joseph. QUANTIFICATION OF AIRBORNE BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS ASSOCIATED WITH LAND APPLIED BIOSOLIDS. WATER ENVIRON RESEARCH FDN(5/15/2003 - 9/1/2006).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER MEMBERSHIP FROM CAROLLO ENGINEERS. CAROLLO ENGINEERS(3/31/2003 - 12/31/2006).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. DETERMINATION OF INFECTIOUS & NON-INFECTIOUS VIRUSES USING CELL CULTURE & PCR. AMER WATER WORKS SVC CO(1/1/2003 - 12/31/2003).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. DETERMINATION OF INFECTIOUS & NON-INFECTIOUS VIRUSES USING CELL CULTURE & PCR. AMER WATER WORKS SVC CO(12/15/2002 - 12/14/2003).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. MICROBIAL INACTIVATION AND REMOVAL BY TREATED ZEOLITE IN A POINT-OF-USE DEVICE. NORTHERN GRAVEL CO(11/19/2002 - 11/18/2003).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM NORTHERN GRAVEL COMPANY. NORTHERN GRAVEL CO(11/1/2002 - 12/31/2004).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM MALCOLM PIRNIE. MALCOLM PIRNIE, INC(9/1/2002 - 12/31/2005).
Westerhoff,Paul*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza, Sommerfeld,Milton R. DEVELOPING A CUSTOMER-DRIVEN RESPONSE STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH PUBLIC PERCEPTION (TASTE AND ODORS AT THE TAP) AND POTENTIAL HEALTH. CITY OF PHOENIX(7/1/2002 - 6/30/2006).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM CITY OF PHOENIX. CITY OF PHOENIX(6/1/2002 - 12/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. CHARACTERIZING MICROBIAL WATER QUALITY IN NON-POTABLE RECLAIMED WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. NARASIMHAN(4/1/2002 - 9/30/2004).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM DAMON WILLIAMS ASSOCIATES. DAMON S. WILLIAMS ASSOC(3/15/2002 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. AN INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY-COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTER (I/UCRC) SITE AT ASU. NSF-ENG(11/1/2001 - 4/30/2008).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM CITY OF TEMPE. CITY OF TEMPE(11/1/2001 - 12/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE. EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE(11/1/2001 - 12/31/2006).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM CITY OF CHANDLER. CITY OF CHANDLER(11/1/2001 - 10/31/2002).
Westerhoff,Paul*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza. WATER QUALITY ISSUES DURING DEEP-WELL RECHARGE AND RECOVERY AND VADOSE ZONE RECHARGE. CITY OF SCOTTSDALE(8/1/2001 - 8/1/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM CITY OF SCOTTSDALE. CITY OF SCOTTSDALE(8/1/2001 - 12/31/2007).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. SAMPLE COLLECTION PROCEDURES AND LOCATIONS FOR BACTERIAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING. NARASIMHAN(3/2/2001 - 8/1/2003).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FROM NCS. NARASIMHAN(1/16/2001 - 12/31/2006).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. WATER QUALITY CENTER SUPPORT FROM NCS - MEMBERSHIP ACCT. NARASIMHAN(1/16/2001 - 12/31/2005).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. FIELD TESTING OF USEPA METHOD 1601 FOR COLIPHAGE. AMER WATER WORKS SVC CO(1/1/2001 - 8/1/2003).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. A PLANNING GRANT TO INITIATE AN INDUSTRY-UNIVERISTY-COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTER AT ASU. NSF-ENG(12/1/2000 - 12/31/2001).
Abbaszadegan,Morteza*. OCCURRENCE OF VIRUSES IN GROUND WATER IN THE UNITED STATES. AMER WATER WORKS SVC CO(9/1/1999 - 12/31/2000).
Fox,Peter*, Abbaszadegan,Morteza, Westerhoff,Paul. NATIONAL CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY. USEPA-REGION 9(9/1/1998 - 8/31/2005).
