Innovating for a Greener Future: Dr. David Hogan on Remediation and Mining

David E. Hogan, PhD, is an assistant research professor in the Department of Environmental Science. He is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist whose primary research focuses on developing remediation technologies for biosurfactants and bio-inspired synthetic surfactants. Dr. Hogan is particularly interested in remediating mining-impacted aqueous solutions to protect environmental and human health. His research aims to clean metalliferous waters, enabling beneficial water reuse while recovering metal constituents for responsible disposal or creating saleable products. He strives to develop industry partnerships to innovate technologies that address environmental issues from legacy mining and reduce the environmental impact of modern mining practices. 

We recently caught up with Dr. Hogan to discuss his career transition from chemistry to environmental engineering, the importance of applying lab research to real-world problems, and his advice for future mining students. 

What attracted you to the field of engineering? 

I don't have a degree in engineering, but I did minor in it here at the University of Arizona. What drove me to that was my chemistry minor, which was originally part of my PhD program. The material I was learning wasn’t very applied in the real world. I was learning how to design instruments, as opposed to figuring out how to use them to address environmental problems. Just after I started my program, the Fukushima nuclear accident happened, and I became interested in ways we could remediate it. Here in the Southwest, we face a lot of mining and similar issues where I realized I could apply my experience and expertise. 

What appeals to you most about research? 

It comes down to taking what we learn in the lab and finding ways to apply it. I spent a lot of time outdoors as a kid, and one of my first jobs in high school and early college was working in landfills. I saw the kind of impacts we have that are often out of sight and out of mind. Take trash, for example. We set it on the curb, a garbage truck picks it up, and you never see or think about it again. But in my job, doing waste characterization studies, I saw the daily impact. That inspired me. I wanted to contribute to solving environmental issues. 

I had an interest in microbiology, and I was able to leverage that background into environmental science and mining. Mining is similar to how we treat solid waste—out of sight and out of mind for most people. We don’t think much about the processes that make our cell phones, TVs, and cars possible. If we can responsibly utilize our mining and mineral resources, I want to help make that process more sustainable. That’s why I chose this field and how I apply my research. 

What appeals to you most about teaching? 

I’ve always found myself to be a natural teacher. In college, I spent a lot of time in study groups, and I learned best by helping teach others. I get a lot of joy from helping students have those “aha” moments and understand complex issues that we don’t encounter regularly. 

When we had Arizona teachers here for the CU at the Mine teacher workshops this summer, I really enjoyed doing that outreach. I loved helping people grasp these complex issues and communicate them to others. 

What advice would you give students interested in pursuing a career like yours? 

My path to where I am today was not straightforward. Looking back, especially as an undergraduate, I wouldn’t have imagined working in the mining industry. So, when I talk to students, I advise them to gain as much experience as possible and broaden their scope. You may discover interests you didn’t know you had. By diversifying and taking advantage of unique opportunities, you’ll find interesting ways to connect dots and cross boundaries. Don’t limit yourself to one specific goal—reach out, find new opportunities, and see where they lead. 

How do you see your work in protecting environmental and human health addressing future problems like climate change and population growth? 

They’re very related. Population growth fuels demand for material goods. Similarly, as we transition to renewable energy technologies and greener economies, critical minerals and metals are essential. You can’t address climate change without the raw materials needed for that transition. 

My work focuses on recovering resources from materials traditionally viewed as waste. By doing this, we reduce demand for traditional mining, clean up resources for beneficial reuse, and create a circular economy approach. This inherently protects environmental and human health while facilitating the green economy transition.