{{short description|American environmental geochemist}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Michelle Marie Scherer | alma_mater = OGI School of Science and Engineering <br> University of Connecticut (MS) University of Virginia (BSc) | thesis_title = Equilibrium studies of chromate adsorption on glacio-fluvial aquifer sediments (MS) | thesis_url = http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30132751 | thesis_year = 1994 | workplaces = University of Iowa | website = [https://research.engineering.uiowa.edu/scherer/ Scherer Laboratory] }}
'''Michelle Marie Scherer''' is the current dean of the College of Engineering at Michigan Technological University. She previously served as the Donald E. Bently Professor of Engineering at the University of Iowa. Her research considers environmental geochemistry, in particular redox-reactions at mineral-water interfaces. In 2009 she was awarded the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Distinguished Service Award.
== Early life and education == Scherer grew up in New Jersey.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.iihr.uiowa.edu/education/meet-our-faculty-and-staff/michelle-scherer-hooked-on-engineering/|title=Michelle Scherer: Solving the Puzzle|date=2012-03-01|website=IIHR – Hydroscience & Engineering|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> She enjoyed mathematics and problem solving as a child, and was particularly interested in using engineering in an environmental context.<ref name=":3" /> She studied systems engineering at the University of Virginia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/faculty-staff/michelle-m-scherer|title=Michelle M. Scherer {{!}} College of Engineering {{!}} The University of Iowa|website=www.engineering.uiowa.edu|access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref> She moved to the University of Connecticut where she earned a master's degree in civil and environmental engineering. Scherer joined the OGI School of Science and Engineering for her doctoral studies and earned a PhD in 1998.<ref name=":0" />
== Research and career == In 1998 Scherer joined the University of Iowa as an assistant professor. She was promoted to professor in 2010 and made a chair in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. That year she was awarded the AEESP Frontier in Research Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aeespfoundation.org/awards/frontier-research|title=Walter J. Weber, Jr. AEESP Frontier in Research Award {{!}} AEESP Foundation|website=www.aeespfoundation.org|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> Scherer specialises in environmental geochemistry, in particular, the interaction of pollution and soil.<ref name=":3" /> Before Scherer it was believed that pollutants only interacted with the surfaces of soil and minerals, but Scherer has demonstrated that they can penetrate the interiors of mineral particles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iowaenvironmentalfocus.org/2010/12/21/with-national-science-foundation-grant-ui-researcher-will-study-metals-in-soil/|title=With National Science Foundation grant, UI researcher will study metals in soil|last=jmalewitz|date=2010-12-21|website=Iowa Environmental Focus|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref>
Her research considers the reduction-oxidation reactions that occur at iron oxide surfaces.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.aeesp.org/node?page=24|title=AEESP|website=www.aeesp.org|access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref> She has investigated the attenuation of chlorinated solvents (including perchloroethylene, PCE, and trichloroethylene, TCE) through biological degradation, and the impact of abiotic degradation due to iron minerals in natural attenuation. She has shown that at high iron concentrations the formation of metastable mineral phases can reduce the PCE and TCE, making them more susceptible to attenuation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.remtecsummit.com/michelle-scherer|title=Platform Presenters - Michelle Scherer|website=www.remtecsummit.com|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref>
She is involved with a University of Iowa project to monitor the levels of lead in Iowan drinking water, which is known to impact children's physical and mental capacity.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://now.uiowa.edu/2019/09/getting-lead-out|title=Getting the lead out|date=2019-09-27|website=Iowa Now|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> Whilst the Flint water crisis occurred due to city-wide changes in water sources and poor control of corrosion, Iowan homes often have sources of lead in their own plumbing, and need lead monitoring at the tap.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/2019/10/03/how-you-can-test-lead-your-tap-water-free/3852730002/|title=How you can test for lead in your tap water for free|last=Ojeda|first=Hillary|website=Iowa City Press-Citizen|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref>
In 2014 she spoke about ''Women Leaders in Environmental Chemistry'' at the annual American Chemical Society meeting. She joined the United States Environmental Protection Agency Advisory Board in 2014.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://now.uiowa.edu/2016/04/celebrating-women-leaders|title=UI holds Celebration of Excellence and Achievement Among Women|date=2016-04-07|website=Iowa Now|language=en|access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref>
In 2024 she became the Dean of the College of Engineering at Michigan Tech.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=http://www.keweenawreport.com/featured/michelle-scherer-selected-to-lead-michigan-techs-college-of-engineering/|title=Michelle Scherer Selected to Lead Michigan Tech's College of Engineering|date=2024-04-22|website=Keweenaw Report|language=en|access-date=2024-08-26}}</ref>
=== Awards and honours === Her awards and honours include:
* 2010 Malcolm Pirnie Frontier in Research Award<ref name=":1" /> * 2015 Excellence in Teaching and Dedication to Student Success<ref name=":2" /> * 2016 May Brodbeck Distinguished Achievement Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/news/scherer-receive-may-brodbeck-distinguished-achievement-award-faculty|title=Scherer to Receive May Brodbeck Distinguished Achievement Award for Faculty {{!}} College of Engineering {{!}} The University of Iowa|website=www.engineering.uiowa.edu|access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref>
=== Selected publications === Her publications include:
* {{Cite journal|last1=Johnson |first1=Timothy L.|last2=Scherer|first2=Michelle|last3=Tratnyek |first3=Paul G. |date=1996-07-25|title=Kinetics of halogenated organic compound degradation by iron metal|url=|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=30|issue=8|pages=2634–2640|doi=10.1021/es9600901|bibcode=1996EnST...30.2634J}} * {{Cite journal|last1=Alowitz |first1=Michael J. |last2=Scherer|first2=Michelle|date=2002-02-01|title=Kinetics of nitrate, nitrite, and Cr (VI) reduction by iron metal|url=|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=36|issue=3 |pages=299–306|doi=10.1021/es011000h|pmid=11871541 |bibcode=2002EnST...36..299A }} * {{Cite journal|last1=Williams |first1=Aaron G. B. |last2=Scherer|first2=Michelle|date=2001-09-01|title=Kinetics of Cr (VI) reduction by carbonate green rust|url=|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=35|issue=17 |pages=3488–3494|doi=10.1021/es010579g|pmid=11563651 |bibcode=2001EnST...35.3488W }}
== References == {{scholia|author}} {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Scherer, Michelle}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:University of Connecticut alumni Category:University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science alumni Category:University of Iowa faculty Category:21st-century American educators