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Science to Achieve Results Fellowship for Graduate Environmental Study
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Washington, D.C.
Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-F2011-STAR-H1
Topic Title: Water Quality, Hydrogeology and Surface Water (H1)
Applicant: Mr. Rory J. Klinger
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I am writing this letter in my capacity as professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at San Diego State University, a position which I have held for the past 30 years. Over the course of this period, I have taught and supervised more than 6,000 students, of which about 15 percent of them have been graduate students. I teach a good mix of undergraduate and graduate classes. Our students typically join the workforce to practice hydraulic engineering in various capacities. Some decide to pursue advanced degrees.
I have known Mr. Klinger for about 18 months. He took a class from me in the Fall 2009. The course was CIVE 444 Applied Hydraulics, which is required for students studying civil engineering. Mr. Klinger earned an A in the class, joining a small group of students, about 5, in a class of 70. Mr. Klinger always sat in front of the class, a measure of his responsibility and commitment to learning. The material was difficult at times, involving specialized knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, and computers. Yet Mr. Klinger was able to navigate readily to the top of the class. His performance during this experience revealed that he is a mature individual, and that he is amply motivated to succeed in his chosen field. The fact that he performed at the top of his class in all tests reveals an unusual degree of enthusiam for learning and determination to excel in his academic studies.
In 2009, Mr. Klinger joined the Master's program in our department. He is currently working with my colleague, Prof. T. Garoma, on a novel topic dealing with the fate and effects of emergent contaminants. On this basis, he will develop a Master's thesis. Mr. Klinger is currently taking one of my graduate classes, CIVE633, Environmental Hydrology, which I have taught for the past 15 years. In this class, we deal with the interphase between quantitative surface and groundwater hydrology, and the chemical and biological components of the environment. About half of the semester has already been completed, with Mr. Klinger well positioned to earn an A in this class. The class covers topics in environmental impact of water resources development projects, wastewater ecology, wetland hydrology, ecohydrology, river restoration, salinity management, and groundwater sustainability. We make ample use of case studies which have an interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and international flavor, which exposes our students to much needed diversity in the workplace. As part of this work, Mr. Klinger wrote a short essay answering the question: Should salts produced by irrigated agriculture be exported out of the basin or not? Addressing this question properly requires an understanding of elements of geology, geomorphology, agricultural development, salinity management, groundwater quality, and societal responsibility to sustainable development. His essay was thoughful and well written, revealing his excellent organizational and communication skills.
Mr. Klinger graduated with a degree in Biology and Environmental Systems from the University of California San Diego in 2005. From then, he went on to work in the field of environmental science, specifically in site assessment, liability inventorying, and monitoring. In the course of this work, which exposed Mr. Klinger to a substantial amount of field experience, he became interested in returning to school to get a formal degree in engineering. Engineering was natural choice after having experienced first-hand the technical problems in the field. Given his background, experience, and interests, Environmental Engineering was a logical choice. Mr. Klinger is committed to the environmental field, as his work of the past 10 years demonstrates. He is active with the SDSU Chapter of "Engineers Without Borders." Its members seek to serve in regions that are economically disadvantaged. The group is currently carrying out a water and sewage project in Tejeras, Honduras. The objective is to provide clean water to about 700 people in a remote region of Honduras, resolving recurring problems of public health among the population. Mr. Klinger's committment to this project demonstrates his sensibility toward global societal issues and his resolve to contribute his developing expertise to this far reaching cause.
The topic of Mr. Klinger's thesis is the effects of trace levels of antibiotics in the environment. This is a relatively new subject, despite the fact that these products have been around for more than 70 years. Recently, emphasis is being placed on quantifying and tracking residual concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Mr. Klinger's study has the potential to substantially impact management decisions regarding this serious problem. Society has only recently recognized the pervasive and often negative effects of residual chemicals produced by the pharmaceutical industry. Trace levels of contaminants such as sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxiacine have been documented to exist in the environment, in particular in surface waters in areas close to major hospitals, municipal discharges, and farming operations. These chemicals result from insufficient absorption by the human body and from dumping of excess quantities into the drainage systems. The risk is that these free chemicals will encourage the development of bacterial strains resistant to the chemicals, thereby undermining long-standing efforts to assure public health. The results of the proposed research will ensure that children and the elderly, two segments of society increasingly at risk from these environmental hazards, will be further protected from disease outbreaks tied to this cause.
Mr. Klinger is dedicated to pursuing his career goals, which include eventually getting a doctorate degree in his field. He is highly motivated to contribute in the field of environmental engineering, specifically in the area of environmental tracking of contaminants. There is an urgent need to young people to dedicate their lives to these pursuits, from which society at-large will benefit. Mr. Klinger's exemplary mix of academic achievements, technical expertise, social responsibility, entusiasm for his chosen field of environmental engineering, and committment to pursuing an advanced degree speak for itself.
In closing, I state unequivocally, that in my entire academic career, spanning more than 30 years, Mr. Klinger stands out clearly, if not at the top, very close to the top.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Victor M. Ponce
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-1324 USA