Professor Thomas Harmon will be leaving UCLA this summer to
become one of the founding faculty of the tenth and newest
University of California campus.
Of the seven other scholars from across the country selected to
join the founding faculty at UC Merced, Harmon is the only
professor from a UC. Currently an associate professor at the UCLA
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, he will be
joining the Engineering Division of UC Merced.
UC Merced Engineering Dean Jeff Wright said he is excited about
working with Harmon.
“I’m extremely enthusiastic about Dr. Harmon joining
our faculty. Environmental Engineering will be one of our initial
programs at UC Merced, and his expertise in the areas of
contaminant transport and groundwater remediation will give us
immediate visibility in these important areas,” Wright
said.
He also hopes to found many new programs with Harmon.
“We will also be developing strong programs in computer
engineering and earth systems sciences, which will integrate very
nicely with Tom’s research interest in the development and
use of environmental sensors,” he said.
With a Ph.D. in civil engineering with an environmental emphasis
from Stanford University, Harmon joined UCLA in 1992 as an
assistant professor.
Although he expressed sadness about having to leave UCLA, Harmon
is excited and feels that it’s a once in a lifetime
opportunity to be part of creating a new and strong program in the
Central Valley.
“I hope to bring my UC experience to (UC Merced) and help
to build a program about the Central Valley,” he said.
While at UCLA, Harmon, who has a hazardous waste specialty, has
made many contributions to the community through his extensive
research.
Among his research topics are local problems with soils and
hazardous waste in Los Angeles, and how they move around and affect
the environment ““ and if there are more efficient ways to get
them out.
He was also involved in many projects, such as the Belmont High
School project, where he served as a UCLA Science Advisor to see if
the contamination could be salvaged.
Harmon feels that his most exciting project has been his work
for the Center for Embedded Network Sensing. The center looks at
how to use large censor rays and how to protect ourselves from
contamination, as well as how to detect earthquakes early on.
Harmon has taught many courses both in the undergraduate and
graduate programs in waste water treatment, and taught the GE
Cluster course Global Environment. Before leaving UCLA, he will be
teaching a Fiat Lux seminar this quarter.
Since he will be leaving July 1, Harmon still has many projects
and research in progress. He will continue research at UCLA as an
adjunct associate professor so he can continue the activities he
started and supervise his graduate research students.
To compensate for UCLA’s loss of Harmon, Department Chair
Brian Yeh is planning on finding a replacement.
“He will be a big loss to this program; he has been an
excellent faculty member and a major contributor,” said
Yeh.