Fellow, Water Environment Federation

Fellow, Environment and Water Resources Institute

Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers

Diplomate, American Academy of Water Resources Engineers

Board Certified Environmental Engineer, American Academy of Environmental Engineers

Registered Professional Engineer (Florida, USA), No. 46868

Dr. Berrin Tansel is an environmental engineer, researcher, author, educator, and professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Florida International University (FIU). Before joining FIU, Dr. Tansel was a project manager at Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and worked on the Boston Harbor cleanup project.  She was a project manager at PEER Consultants, and a consultant for the Soap and Detergent Association, SCS Engineers, City of Pompano Beach, and ERM-South.  She worked at the Center for Environmental Management at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts on preparation of six reports to US Congress on waste management.

Dr. Tansel teaches graduate and undergraduate courses covering fundamental theory, laboratory experimentation, and design aspects of environmental engineering with particular emphasis in environmental sustainability, wastewater and water treatment processes, infrastructure system reliability, contaminant transport in soil and water environment. She has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature and is a regular contributor to research and education needs and improvement efforts, and to a range of public media on environmental issues. She has authored over 200 research papers, reports, professional practice publications, and books. Her research at Kennedy Space Center on development of a closed loop water recovery and recycling system for space travel was recognized as one of the Highlighted Research Projects that Benefit the NASA-KSC and Nation through the Vision of Space.

Dr. Tansel is a Diplomate of American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, and Board Certified Environmental Engineer by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEES).  She is an elected fellow of Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Environmental and Water Resources Engineers (EWRI). She is the recipient of 2023 Pohland Medal from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, 2021 Science Award from American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists (AAEES), 2021 Margaret S. Petersen Outstanding Woman of the Year Award from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Edmund Freidman Professional Achievement Award from ASCE, Engineer of the Year Award from ASCE Miami-Dade Chapter, Public Education Award from Florida Water Environment Foundation (FWEA).  She is the founding Editor in Chief of Environmental Challenges (Elsevier) and has served as the Co-editor in Chief of Journal of Environmental Management (Elsevier) for over six years.

Dr. Tansel is a commissioner and executive committee member of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, and a Program Evaluator (PEV) for environmental engineering and civil engineering programs for the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). She serves on the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC), United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Climate Change Subcommittee, Environmental Engineering Council of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES), and on the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers and American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. She is a registered professional engineer in Florida, USA. Dr. Tansel holds PhD and MS degrees in environmental engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and BS degree in chemical engineering from Middle East Technical University.