Bio

B.S. Environmental Technology, Cornell University, 1984​M.S. Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 1989​Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 1991

"We work with community partners to test innovative stormwater designs and to develop and apply computational models of water resource systems."

Teresa B. Culver, Director of Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering

My lifelong love for the outdoors translated directly into the study of environmental and water resource engineering. At UVa, I have the honor of working with a new generation of engineers who will work to create a sustainable future. In addition to developing technical abilities, I encourage students to consider current environmental challenges and to develop effective collaborative skills.

Whenever I have the chance, I enjoy exploring wild places with my husband, daughter, and son. I’m also a runner, birder, and family genealogist.

Awards

  • Margaret S. Peterson Award, American Society of Civil Engineers 2020
  • Service to the Institute Award, Environmental Water Resources Institute, ASCE 2020
  • Walter L. Huber Research Prize, American Society of Civil Engineers 2002
  • National Science Foundation CAREER Award 1995-1999
  • Civil Engineering Teaching Award, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia 2005
  • Lilly Teaching Fellow 1994-1995

Research Interests

  • Smart Buildings/Cities
  • Risk and Decision Analysis
  • Optimization Models and Methods
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Resources

Selected Publications

  • Evaluating the impact of uncertainty of reservoir operation for malaria control as the climate changes in Ethiopia, Climatic Change, 2016, 136, 601-614, DOI 10.1007/s10584-016-1639-8. Reis, J., T.B. Culver, P.J. Block, and M.P. McCartney
  • Reservoir Operation for Recession Agriculture in Mekong Basin, Laos, J. Water Resour. Plann. and Manage., 2014, 04014083, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000485. Reis, J., T.B. Culver, G. Lacombe, and S.S. Sellamutta
  • Simulation-Optimization for the Design of Outlet Control Structures for Ecological Detention Ponds." J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage., 2014, 140(11), 04014031, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE) WR.1943-5452.0000420. Mobley, J.T., T.B. Culver, and T.E. Hall
  • "Design of Outlet Control Structures for Ecological Detention Ponds." J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage., 140(2), 250-257, 2014. Mobley, J.T. and Culver, T.B.
  • Understanding Precipitation Fidelity in Hydrological Modeling, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 2012, 17(12), 1315–1324. Mobley, J.T., T.B. Culver, and R.W. Burgholzer
  • Environmental Flow Components for Measuring Hydrologic Model Fit during Low Flow Events, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 2012, 17(12), 1325–1332. Mobley, J.T., T.B. Culver, and R.W. Burgholzer
  • Water resources implications of integrating malaria control into the operation of an Ethiopian dam, Water Resources Research, Vol. 47, W09530, doi:10.1029/2010WR010166, 2011. Reis. J., T. Culver, M. McCarthy, J. Lautze, and S. Kibret
  • Locating nested monitoring wells to reduce model uncertainty for management of a multi-layer coastal aquifer, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 15 (10), 763- 771, 2010. Baker, R. and T.B. Culver
  • Uncertainty analysis for watershed modeling using generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation with multiple calibration measures, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 134(2), 97-106, 2008. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9496(2008)134:2(97). Jia, Y. and T.B. Culver
  • Bootstrapped Artificial Neural Networks for Synthetic Flow Generation With a Small Data Sample, Journal of Hydrology, 331, 580-590, 2006, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.06.005. Jia, Y. and T.B. Culver
  • Optimal Design of a Compacted Soil Liner Containing Sorptive Amendments, Journal of Environmental Engineering, 132(7),769-776. 2006. doi:10.1061/ASCE0733-9372200 6132:7769. Bartelt-Hunt, S.L., T.B. Culver,, J.A. Smith, L.S. Matott, and A.J. Rabideau
  • Robust Optimization for Total Maximum Daily Load Allocations, Water Resources Research, Vol. 42. W02412, doi:10.1029/2005WR004079, 2006. Jia, Y. and T.B. Culver
  • Groundwater remediation design under uncertainty using genetic algorithms, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 25-34, 131(1), 2005 Chan Hilton, A.B. and T.B. Culver
  • Impacts of physical and chemical heterogeneities on aquifer remediation design, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 130(4), 311-320, 2004. Culver, T.B., T.R. Naperala Aksoy, A. and T.B. Culver
  • Case study of impact of Total Maximum Daily Load allocations on nitrate leaching, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management,128(4), 262-270, 2002. A.L. Potts, X. Zhang, K.A. Neeley, and S.L. Yu
  • Sensitivity of optimal groundwater remediation designs to residual water quality violations, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 127(5), 316-325, September/October 2001. Chan Hilton, A.B. and T.B. Culver
  • Constraint handling for genetic algorithms in optimal remediation design, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 126(3), 128-137, 2000. Chan Hilton, A.B. and T.B. Culver
  • Effect of sorption assumptions on the optimization of aquifer remediation designs, Ground Water, 38(2), 200-208, 2000. Aksoy, A. and T.B. Culver
  • Dynamic optimal groundwater remediation by granular activated carbon, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 124(1), 59-64, 1998. Culver, T.B. and G.W. Shenk
  • Modeling the desorption of organic contaminants from long-term contaminated soil using distributed mass transfer rates, Environmental Science and Technology, 31(6), 1581-1588, 1997. Culver, T.B., S.P. Hallisey, D. Sahoo, J.J. Deitsch, and J.A. Smith
  • Dynamic optimal ground-water reclamation with treatment capital costs, Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 123(1), 23-29, 1997. Culver, T.B. and C.A. Shoemaker
  • Optimal control for groundwater remediation by differential dynamic programming with quasi-Newton approximations, Water Resources Research, 29(4), 823-831, 1993. Culver, T.B., and C.A. Shoemaker
  • Effects of soil moisture and physical-chemical properties of organic pollutants on vapor-phase transport in the vadose zone, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 11, 273-290, 1992. Ong, S.K., T.B. Culver, L.W. Lion and C.A. Shoemaker
  • Dynamic optimal control of groundwater remediation with flexible management periods, Water Resources Research, 28(3), 629-641, 1992. Culver, T.B., and C.A. Shoemaker
  • Impact of vapor sorption on the subsurface transport of volatile organic compounds: A numerical model and analysis, Water Resources Research, 27(9), 2259-2270, 1991. Culver, T.B., C.A. Shoemaker, and L.W. Lion
  • Analytical models of the impact of two-phase sorption on subsurface transport of volatile chemicals, Water Resources Research, 26(4), 745-758, 1990. Shoemaker, C.A., T.B. Culver, L.W. Lion, and M.G. Peterson
  • Interrelationships between prey body size and growth of age-0 yellow perch, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 118: 1-10, 1989. Mills, E.L., M.V. Pol, R.E. Sherman, and T.B. Culver

Courses Taught

  • Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Laboratory
  • Fluid Mechanics and Laboratory
  • Stormwater Management
  • Environmental Systems Modeling and Management
  • Groundwater Hydrology and Contaminant Transport

Featured Grants & Projects

  • Mid-Atlantic Transportation Sustainability Center


    Removing Nitrate from Stormwater with Biochar in Roadway Soils

  • Department of Education, Graduate Assistance Areas of National Need


    Doctoral Development Program to Produce Faculty Members with Expertise in Resilient Infrastructure