David Wituszynski Email & Phone Number

Kajjansi, Central Region, Uganda

I conduct research to support our design teams and our ministry partners in East Africa and around the world. My research focus so far has been on water treatment and water resources development, but has included the development of low-cost data collection platforms.

Kajjansi, Uganda; Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Similar to my current role, including additional professional and spiritual development components. Extended stay in Cambodia (8 months) to gain the perspective of another office and another national culture.

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Preparing articles for publication, assisting with project management and with field data collection, and seeking external funding to support projects.

Columbus, Oh

During this time, I completed a doctoral dissertation in which I quantified ecological benefits of a large-scale green infrastructure installation in Columbus, OH. I helped start and run an event-based stormwater sampling program, and I designed and implemented a multi-taxon ecological monitoring program focusing on carabid beetles and on birds. For both of these projects, I manged teams of undergraduate students who conducted fieldwork and labwork. I also used several machine-learning approaches to attempt to automate the identification of birdsong, including hidden markov models, template cross-correlation, random forests, boosted classification trees, and convolutional neural networks.

Kajjansi, Uganda

Conducted land-use planning for a large-scale educational campus in its early design phase. As the civil engineering intern, performed high-level water and wastewater demand calculations, sited wells, and designed a water distribution system. Also synthesized input from a multidisciplinary and multinational volunteer team into a technical report (~100 pages). Project involved extensive cross-cultural communication.

Columbus, Ohio, United States

During this time, I completed a masters thesis on the prevalence of algal toxins in fish in Lake Erie and mentored an undergraduate student who continued the work as her honors thesis. I also taught an upper-level class in sustainability analysis (using eMergy) and organized a semester-long graduate discussion group on ecosystem health.

Durham, Nh

Assisted in research projects involving water treatment to remove trihalomethanes and arsenic, and treatment by slow sand filtration, and conducted general laboratory maintenance. Prepared a literature review on technologies for the removal of entrained and dissolved air from water.

Rochester, Ny

Served as an Americorps VISTA Volunteer as part of the University of Rochester Urban Fellows program. While interning, distributed lead testing kits door-to-door in the 14621 area of Rochester, NY. Additionally, as part of the fellowship, attended weekly discussion sessions and experiential tours focused around specific urban challenges. Gave a presentation to officials and peers at the Rochester City Hall about my experiences. Also helped to design a website for the Jefferson Avenue Revitalization Project as part of the program

Rochester, Ny

Compiled a database of efficient cookstove technologies in order to assist AHEAD in deciding which technologies should be implemented in their projects.

Atlanta, Ga

Conducted research on the bacteriological degradation of selected naturally occurring chemicals. Advised by Dr. Jim Spain.

York, Me

Performed laboratory testing of water at various stages in the plant, including settleometer readings, calculation of total suspended solids and biological oxygen demand, and the determination of chlorine, ammonia, and nitrate levels. Prepared slides for the analysis of microorganisms present in the wastewater.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Ecological Engineering

Activities and Societies: Ecological Engineering Society, Au Sable Graduate Fellows, Council of Graduate Students

Master’S Degree, Ecological Engineering

Activities and Societies: Ecological Engineering Society, Au Sable Graduate Fellows

Bachelor’S Degree, Chemical Engineering

Activities and Societies: AIChE; Engineers for a Sustainable World; Leadership Development Program; Rochester Urban Fellowship

High School