Faculty Snapshot: Adeyemi Adeleye

Tell us a bit about your work.
My research integrates environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, and material science to discover materials and interfacial reactions that can lead to a more sustainable environment. I am currently teaching a new course, "Environmental Soil Chemistry," which is deepening my students' understanding of the chemical nature of soil and the chemistry behind how soil performs its many ecosystem services. In the fall, I taught a course titled "A Better Planet by Design," and there were students from virtually all Columbia schools. Teaching students from different backgrounds was challenging, but it was a great experience for both the students and me!

What are you looking forward to right now? What are you most excited about?
A few years ago, I got a one-year research project to determine how much per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) households contribute to the municipal wastewater stream. PFAS are an important class of emerging contaminants. Everything that could go wrong went wrong with the project, and we were still working on it three years later. We eventually achieved the objective, and I cannot wait for the manuscripts from the project, one of which is currently under review, to be shared with everyone.

What is a self-care practice that works for you?
I like to get outside and run a few miles a couple of days weekly. It allows me to move my body and appreciate nature (and, of course, the built environment). Although running can be physically demanding, I enjoy the stress relief and good mood that I feel thereafter. Running also allows me to listen to music and just zone out for some time.

To learn more about Dr. Adeleye's work, please visit his departmental website.