Jacimaria Batista

Biography

Dr. Jacimária Batista is a professor of environmental engineering at UNLV. Her research involves technology development for water and wastewater treatment. She has built an international and national reputation for her pioneering work on treatment technologies to remove the contaminant perchlorate from waters. Dr. Batista is the inventor of a hybrid technology for perchlorate removal (U.S. patent #7407581). In addition to her work on perchlorate, Dr. Batista investigated the removal of several contaminants by ion-exchange, the treatment of ion-exchange brines, and biological phosphorus removal.  Dr. Batista’s research is collaborative and multidisciplinary and has attracted funding from industry, federal, state, and local agencies, including U.S. EPA, AWWARF, NSF, NDEP, Clark County Reclamation District, Clark County Health Department, Clark County Flood Control District, Las Vegas Valley Water District, and water utilities in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Her research has been disseminated broadly.  Dr. Batista is an accomplished and student-focused instructor; She is the recipient of various teaching awards. Her teaching evaluations are consistent with the highest standards of her department and college. Students praise her enthusiastic teaching style, high academic expectations, quality of the courses, and approachability. She teaches senior level and graduate level courses on water and wastewater treatment and solids and hazardous waste engineering. Dr. Batista works closely with her Ph.D., Masters, and undergraduate students motivating them to excel at all levels. Dr. Batista has served her profession, university, college and department extensively. She is a resourceful problem-solver and an active member of the department in matters of curriculum and academic priorities. She is a sought-after environmental engineering consultant to the water industry of California, Nevada, and Arizona.