Natalie Beach, Phd, Pe Email & Phone Number

Broomfield, Colorado, United States

Specializing in evaluating wastewater process performance and providing solutions for optimization, process modeling, and planning/design of BNR facilities.

Madison, Wisconsin

- Dissertation Title: Toward energy self-sufficient wastewater treatment: insights into biological nutrient removal using low dissolved oxygen- Summary of Key Chapters:• Led a 3-year study for the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wisconsin. Responsible for remodeling, automating, and operating a pilot-scale continuous-flow activated sludge treatment system. Responsible for sampling, laboratory testing, and data analysis. Research was conducted to identify a strategy to convert from high-dissolved oxygen to low-dissolved oxygen conditions while maintaining effluent quality. In addition, I performed and analyzed data from bio-kinetic testing, microscopy, and next-generation DNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics. This data was used to assess microbial community before, during, and after dissolved oxygen adjustments.• Led a separate 3-year study for the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, Wisconsin. Operated, evaluated, and monitored inorganic nitrogen transformation and removal within a laboratory-scale partial-nitritation and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process. I evaluated if the system would efficiently treat full-scale struvite harvester effluent (Ostara Process) from the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant with the intended goal to relieve additional energy demand from additional inorganic nitrogen loading. For this project, I also used next-generation DNA and RNA sequencing and bioinformatics to gain a better understanding of microbial community function and dynamics under cyclic micro-aerobic and anoxic conditions.

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Ph.D. Preliminary Exam: ▪ Linking community and function in a micro-aerobic/anoxic nitrogen-cycling bioreactor Ph.D. Qualifying Exam: ▪ Using a rapid technique for quantifying viable Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp. to compare the efficacy and reliability of ‘full advanced treatment’ and non-reverse osmosis potable reuse treatment trainsGraduate Coursework: • Biological Treatment Processes (Civ Engr 821); Physical & Chemical Treatment Processes (Civ Engr 822); Aquatic Chemistry (Civ Engr 500); Environmental Biogeochemistry (Civ Engr 609); Chemistry of Natural Waters (Civ Engr 700); Bioinformatics for Microbiologists (Microbio 875); Physiology of Microorganisms (Microbio 526); Introduction to R for Research (Comp Sci 368); Teaching of Science and Engineering (EPD 654)Teaching: • Responsible for leading the laboratory portion of Environmental Engineering Processes (Civ Engr 322, Fall 2018). • Facilitated discussions, graded assignments, and was responsible for communicating with UW Accelerated Master’s Program students in Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering (Civ Engr 721, Fall 2015 and Fall 2017).Skills:• Software: Adobe Creative Cloud, ArcGIS, BioWin, Geneious, Microsoft Office, Prism. • Computer Languages: Microsoft Visual Basic, Perl, Python, R, Unix/Linux shell scripting (bash), • Bioinformatics: Use of high performance computing power and clusters. Microbial diversity analyses (Mothur/QIIME), metagenomic assembly pipelines, metatranscriptomics pipelines.• Lab-work expertise: Quantitative PCR, recombinant DNA cloning, DNA/RNA sequencing libraries preparation, molecular work (DNA/RNA extraction), bacterial culturing, Fluorescence In Situ Microscopy (FISH), next-generation sequencing (Illumina, Oxford Nanopore).

Madison, Wisconsin

Degree: ▪ Master of Science in Civil & Environmental EngineeringThesis: ▪ Toward Energy Positive Wastewater Treatment: Identifying a Strategy to Achieve Stable and Effective Nutrient Removal with Low Dissolved Oxygen ConditionsResearch: ▪ Constructed, operated, and routinely sampled an activated sludge pilot plant at Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant in Madison, WI with the goal of operating under low-dissolved oxygen conditions while maintaining effluent quality.▪ Performed laboratory tests and monitored the following parameters: total solids/volatile solids, orthophosphate & ammonium, COD, nitrate, nitrite, & acetate concentrations.▪ Evaluated microbial community before, during, and after dissolved oxygen adjustments using general microscopy, Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH), and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.Coursework:▪ Obtained experience with aquatic chemistry, environmental biogeochemistry, biological treatment processes, physical & chemical treatment processes, drinking & wastewater treatment design, and wastewater modelingAdditional Experience:▪ Interviewed, hired, managed/mentored 6 undergraduate research assistants▪ Participated as a STEM mentor for one high school student (as part of the Dane County Biotechnology Youth Apprenticeship Program) for approximately 10-15 hours per week.▪ Attended workshops and technical sessions at WEFTEC 2013 and 2014 and CSWEA Annual Education Seminar 2014

▪ Assisted engineers in the Water Quality and Water Resource departments with various tasks such as: generating plots in Minitab, data entry, VBA programming, GIS mapping, researching and reviewing water rights contracts, field work (including surveying and use of a flow meter), creating diagrams and excel worksheets, collecting precipitation gauge data, assisting with the Carter Lake Parshall Flume submergence project, and much more. ▪ Gained further experience with Microsoft Access, Word, Powerpoint, OneNote, Outlook, Excel, Visio, PDF files, VBA programming, GIS.

▪ Assessed and respond to the needs of 30+ residents.▪ Led staff and monthly floor meetings.▪ Created, planned, and implemented educational, social, and recreational programs.▪ Managed various administrative duties: maintenance requests, incident reports, and room transfers.▪ Confronted and resolve issues on diversity, racism, alcohol and drug abuse, academic performance, and social acceptance.

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

Activities and Societies: Water Environment Federation, Central States Water Environment Association, Society of Women Engineers

Master Of Science (M.S.), Environmental Engineering

Activities and Societies: Water Environment Federation, Central States Water Environment Association, Society of Women Engineers

Environmental Engineering, Engineering

Activities and Societies: CSU Colorado Water Resource Club, Society of Women Engineers, CSU Gymnastics ClubRelevant Coursework: ▪ Senior.