David E. Schaad, Professor of the Practice

David E. SchaadDr. David Schaad has over seventeen years of design and engineering experience as a consulting engineer working for various firms including: Parsons Engineering Science, Appian Consulting Engineers and Marshall Miller and Associates.

As part of his experience, Dr. Schaad has: designed waste water treatment systems to address industrial and domestic waste streams; developed designs of storm water control structures and strategies to address water quality and quantity; designed fluid transport systems to replace water supplies impacted by anthropogenic sources; designed fuel transport and delivery systems; developed designs for commercial and residential development; prepared land use plans; developed designs to protect against potential flood hazards; designed and developed plans and specifications for fluid handling systems, waste mitigation alternatives and remedial actions for RCRA and CERCLA sites including active industrial facilities and inactive disposal sites (including NPL sites); conducted feasibility studies by evaluating and analyzing the economic and engineering considerations of multiple design alternatives; obtained extensive experience with innovative remedial techniques (including groundwater extraction and treatment, air sparging, soil vapor extraction, and bioventing).

Current research focuses on sustainable engineering, community development, water and wastewater treatment design, stormwater retention/detention and treatment design, hazardous waste remediation, urban hydrology, constructed wetland and stream restoration design, ecological stabilization, sustainable engineering in land development, water resources, water and wastewater treatment.

He is also the faculty advisor for the Duke Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (ewb.pratt.duke.edu).

Office Location:  126 Hudson Hall
Office Phone:  (919) 660-5174
Email Address: send me a message

Teaching (Spring 2026):

  • CEE 132L.001, ENGINEERING THE PLANET Synopsis
    LSRC B110, MWF 10:20 AM-11:10 AM
  • CEE 132L.01L, ENGINEERING THE PLANET Synopsis
    LSRC B110, W 08:30 AM-09:45 AM
  • CEE 132L.02L, ENGINEERING THE PLANET Synopsis
    Hudson 224, M 11:45 AM-01:00 PM
  • EGR 190L.001, ENGINEERING TOPICS WITH LAB Synopsis
    LSRC B110, MW 11:45 AM-01:00 PM
  • EGR 190L.01L, ENGINEERING TOPICS WITH LAB Synopsis
    LSRC B110, F 11:45 AM-01:00 PM
  • CEE 205.01, PRACTICAL METHODS IN CE Synopsis
    Hudson 201, W 08:30 AM-09:45 AM
  • CEE 469.01, INTEGRATED ENVIRON DESIGN Synopsis
    Teer 114, MW 03:05 PM-04:20 PM
  • CEE 679.01, ENVIRON ENGR PROJ MGT Synopsis
    Teer 114, MWF 03:20 PM-04:10 PM
  • EGR 790.09, SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENGINEERING Synopsis
    LSRC B110, MWF 11:45 AM-01:00 PM

Education:

  • PhD, Duke University, 1998
  • MS, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1991
  • B.A., Denison University, 1990

Research Interests:

Current research focuses on sustainable engineering, community development, water and wastewater treatment design, stormwater retention/detention and treatment design, hazardous waste remediation, urban hydrology, constructed wetland and stream restoration design, ecological stabilization, sustainable engineering in land development, water resources, water and wastewater treatment.

Areas of Interest:

Sustainable engineering
Community development
Water and wastewater treatment design
Stormwater retention/detention and treatment design
Hazardous waste remediation
Urban hydrology
Constructed wetland and stream restoration design
Ecological stabilization
Sustainable engineering in land development, water resources, water and wastewater treatment

Curriculum Vitae

Recent Publications

  1. Schaad, David E and Halley, James M. and Wilson, Scott A., Using UCS as a surrogate performance standard at the NCSU NPL site, Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 132 no. 10 (2006), pp. 1355 - 1365 [(ASCE)0733-9372(2006)132:10(1355)]  [abs]
  2. Sutton, D.J. and Kabala, Z.J. and Schaad, D.E. and Ruud, N.C., Dipole-flow test with a tracer: A new single-borehole tracer test for aquifer characterization, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, vol. 44 no. 1 (2000), pp. 71 - 101 [S0169-7722(00)00083-8]  [abs]
  3. Beabes, L.A. and Karkalik, E.J. and Schaad, D.E. and Volpi, R.W. and Hart, A.T., Air Sparging Decision Tool: a practical guide for determining applicability and refining conceptual designs, Proceedings of the International Topical Meeting on Nuclear and Hazardous Waste Management. Spectrum '96, vol. vol.3 (1996), pp. 1886 - 93, Seattle, WA, USA  [abs]

Experience

  • Associate Professor of the Practice and Associate Chair (2008 - Present); Adjunct Assistant Professor and Assistant Chair (2003 - 2008), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University
  • Senior Engineer, Marshall Miller & Associates, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, 2003-2006
  • Vice President - Civil Engineering, Marshall Miller & Associates, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, 2000-2003
  • Project Design Engineer, Appian Consulting Engineers, P.A., Wake Forest, North Carolina, 1999-2000
  • Senior Project Engineer, Marshall Miller & Associates, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1997-1999
  • Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, 1996-1997
  • Project Engineer, Parsons Engineering Science, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, 1991-1995
Honors and Service:
  • Registered Professional Engineer – Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
  • Board Certified Environmental Engineer (Hazardous Waste), American Academy of Env. Engineers, 2005 Diplomate, American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, 2008
  • North Carolina Contractor’s Exam Qualifier: Highway (2002), Public Utilities (2002) and Building (2004)
  • Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (1990)
  • Sigma Pi Sigma, National Physics Honorary (1990)
  • Pi Mu Epsilon, National Mathematics Honorary (1990)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers
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