Dr. Paul Schwab
(765) 496-3602
pschwab@purdue.edu
LILY 3-369

Paul Schwab is a Professor of Soil Physical Chemistry in the Department of Agronomy and Director of the Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) Program at Purdue University. He received his B.S. degree in Mineral Engineering from Colorado School of Mines, and completed his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Colorado State University. After serving 14 years on the faculty at Kansas State University, Dr. Schwab joined Purdue University in 1997. He was named Director of NRES in July, 2008.

Dr. Schwab’s research career has focused on environmental issues including reclamation of drastically disturbed lands, characterization of contaminants in soil and water, tracing the leaching of agricultural chemicals in soil, and phytoremediation of metals and organic contaminants in soil. His research has involved studies in more than twenty states in the U.S. as well as Taiwan, South America, and Central Asia.  He has been an associate editor for Journal of Environmental Quality and Soil Science Society of America Journal and has held leadership positions in several national societies. He has authored and edited scientific books and has nearly 100 publications in national refereed journals.

As Director of NRES, Schwab believes strongly in giving every NRES student the opportunity to develop a truly interdisciplinary academic plan of study. He encourages all students to strive to fulfill their scholastic potential while assisting them in tailoring their areas of specialization to meet their needs and interests. The rich learning environment of NRES has a long history, and graduates of the program find employment in every facet of the environmental workplace.