Professor Doug Stewart

Professor Doug Stewart

Profile

Doug Stewart joined the School of Civil Engineering as a lecturer in 1991. He was previously a Visiting Assistant Professor at Oregon State University (1989-91), a Research Assistant in the Engineering Department at Cambridge University (1983-1989), and an Assistant Engineer with Soil Mechanics Limited (1982-83). At Cambridge he worked on a project researching the behaviour of diaphragm retaining walls in stiff clay, and conducted his doctoral research on groundwater effects on in-situ walls in stiff clay. With Soil Mechanics Limited he helped to supervise the construction of ash disposal lagoons, and monitored the movements of a landslide under a mainline railway.

Responsibilities

  • Director of the Institute for Public Health and Environmental Engineering

Research interests

About the time I came to Leeds I became convinced that my skills as a Geotechnical Engineer could be applied to a wide range of environmental problems.  Initially I undertook research on landfill liners and permeable reactive barriers for treating contaminated groundwater. Thinking about these problems led me to consider the role of soil micro-organisms in transforming contaminants in ways that increase or reduce their mobility in groundwater. I have a particular interest in metal mobility in alkaline industrial wastes.  More recently I have become interested in the use of organic rich secondary materials to improve soil structure and function and thus maintain healthy rhizosphere processes.

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Some research projects I'm currently working on, or have worked on, will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • B.Sc., Civil Engineering, University College - London University, 1982
  • M.Phil., Soil Mechanics, Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, 1986
  • Ph.D., Soil Mechanics, Emmanuel College - Cambridge University, 1990
  • Licensed Professional Engineer, Oregon, U.S.A.
  • Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Leeds, 1996.

Professional memberships

  • Member of American Society of Civil Engineers
  • Member of the British Geotechnical Association
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Student education

I teach the following subjects: Properties of Materials: Water, Soil, Steel and Timber, Water and Geotechnics, Soils Engineering.

Research groups and institutes

  • Water, Public Health and Environmental Engineering

Current postgraduate researchers

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>