Dr. Greg Thoma was promoted from Associate Professor to Professor in 2005. Thoma has been a faculty member in the department since 1994.

Thoma's primary research interest is chemical engineering transport phenomena – particularly as it applies to environmental contamination. The overarching goal of several of Thoma's projects is to provide a means for the oil industry to meet environmental regulations in a cost effective manner. In the current context of maintaining national security, it is critical that we are able to provide energy from domestic sources, while still maintaining the integrity of our environment for the maintenance of both human and ecosystem health.

Thoma's work on the fate and transport of bacteria in fractured limestone systems has important implications with regard to watershed management and maintaining ecosystem quality.