Steven Chillrud

Steven Chillrud is a Lamont Research Professor within the Geochemistry Division of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. He describes himself as an environmental geochemist interested in public health research.  Much of his research is focused on the role of particles in the transport, behavior or fate of chemical contaminants related to air, water and soil pollution in both urban and rural settings, and how humans are exposed to them. Dr. Chillrud’s research includes on developing and evaluating practical solutions to pollution challenges. 

Dr. Chillrud is the co-Director of the Columbia University - Northern Plains Superfund Research Program focused on groundwater and drinking water issues relevant to tribal communities. He is an active member of Columbia’s CleanAir Toolbox, a collaboration of 20 research groups across the Columbia Climate School focused on solutions-oriented work to improve air quality in cities in low and middle income countries.  He also has a leadership role in the NIEHS Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan, where he supports a wide array of air, water and soil pollution projects locally and globally, with extensive work in Ghana and several East African countries. His expertise in exposure assessment includes the development and testing of air samplers and analytical methods for quantifying environmental samples.  Dr. Chillrud teaches classes related to sustainability in SIPA’s Environmental Science and Policy Program and the SPS Master’s Program in Science of Sustainability and.  Dr Chillrud earned a BA degree from UC-Santa Cruz and his PhD from Columbia University at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University.