Faculty Directory

Biography

Dr. Christopher P. Higgins is an environmental chemist at the Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Higgins received his A.B. in Chemistry from Harvard University, and graduate degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. He joined Mines in 2009, attaining the title of University Distinguished Professor in 2022 and AMAX Distinguished Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2025. He was the recipient of the 2019 Huber Prize in Civil Engineering Research awarded by the American Society of Civil Engineers.  Dr. Higgins was the lead Principal Investigator for the 2020 Environmental Restoration Project of the Year for the U.S. DoD’s Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program.

His research focuses on the movement of contaminants in the environment. In particular, he studies chemical fate and transport in natural and engineered systems, with a focus on poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Dr. Higgins has authored over 175 peer-reviewed publications.  His research has been supported by NSF, NIH, EPA, USDA, and the DoD.

Education

• PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2007
• MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2002
• AB, Chemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1998

Research

Dr. Christopher Higgins’ research focuses on the fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of emerging contaminants in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Current research projects are examining:

• the release and transport of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) through soils
• human exposure to PFASs;
• treatment of PFAS-impacted soils, sediments, and waters

Labs & Research Centers

• Center for Environmental Risk Assessment
• PFAS@Mines Initiative

Publications

Awards & Honors

• Honorary Professor at The University of Queensland Australia
• Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program Project of the Year (2020)
• ASCE Huber Prize