Diogo Bolster, Frank M. Freimann Professor of Hydrology at the University of Notre Dame, has been awarded the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) inaugural Polubarinova-Kochina Hydrologic Sciences Mid-Career Award.

The award recognizes innovative interdisciplinary research, mentoring and leadership in the hydrologic sciences. Bolster also is the Henry Massman Department Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences.

Bolster is being honored for contributions to the field of hydrogeology, specifically his application of mathematics and engineering to predict the movement of contaminants in groundwater and their potential impact on human health.

According to a nomination letter, “Bolster’s work is revolutionizing the theoretical underpinnings of many aspects of hydrology, including transport and biochemical reactions in streams and hyporheic zones, as well as watershed-scale surface/groundwater interactions.”

Bolster’s holistic and thoughtful mentorship of students and postdoctoral researchers also was cited as a reason for the award. Since joining the faculty in 2010, he has guided 14 students through the Ph.D. program.

“What brings me joy in my field are my highly collaborative colleagues and my hard-working graduate students,” Bolster said. “They mean the world to me, and I would never be here without them.”

The American Geophysical Union (AGU), established in 1919, is an international scientific association dedicated to advancing and disseminating information on Earth and space sciences. The award is named in honor of Pelageya Polubarinova-Kochina, a Russian applied mathematician known for her work on fluid mechanics and hydrodynamics.

— Karla Cruise, Notre Dame College of Engineering