We are pleased to announce Dr. Tao Yan as the new Director of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), effective August 1, 2024. Dr. Yan joined WRRC in 2021 and was appointed Associate Director in December 2022. He succeeds Dr. Thomas Giambelluca as WRRC Director. To ensure a smooth transition of leadership, the two have worked closely together to build upon the current research strengths and develop future directions for the Center.
Dr. Yan’s educational background is in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and his research lies at the intersection of water quality and environmental health microbiology. With his joint appointment with WRRC and the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering (CECE), Dr. Yan’s research focuses on microbial pathogens in natural and built environments, water reuse, and wastewater infrastructure sustainability. His commitment to addressing water-related issues in Hawaiʻi communities, combined with his previous leadership position at WRRC, make him exceptionally well-qualified to lead the Center as it continues to expand its capabilities in addressing critical water-related issues in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.