Civil engineering faculty member Ahjeong Son has been recognized with the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early CAREER Development Program award and a grant of more than $430,000, a recognition that speaks directly to the far-reaching impact and contribution of her work in environmental science and engineering. Her research focuses on biosensors and gene quantification techniques for environmental microbiology and also addresses regional environmental issues, such as the Gulf oil spill. As part of her CAREER plan, Son will lead a research group to develop an inhibitor-resistant gene quantification method capable of detecting bacteria in heterogeneous environmental samples. It will serve as a pivotal element in leveraging in-situ monitoring of pathogenic contaminants to safeguard vital water resources.