ARCS Minnesota Scholar, Greg LeFevre, is one of four University of Iowa faculty members who has been selected to recieve an Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award for 2026. 

The award provides funding and development opportunities for a cohort of tenured mid-career faculty who have established national or international reputations in their disciplines and demonstrate exceptional teaching and mentorship. 

LeFevre, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and researcher with IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, is widely recognized for his work helping communities better understand and manage pollutants that end up in rivers, lakes, and stormwater systems.

LeFevre studies contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and compounds released as tires break down in water. His research focuses on natural approaches to cleaning stormwater, including systems that use plants, soil, and microbes to remove pollution from runoff before it reaches local waterways.

His work has shaped national conversations on water quality and earned major recognition, including a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. He has secured more than $5 million in funding from federal agencies, including NSF, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the U.S. Geological Survey, and has published extensively in his field.

LeFevre also is a committed teacher and mentor. He has developed core courses in environmental chemistry, microbiology, and water treatment, and his students have earned national thesis and dissertation awards.

“His achievements exemplify excellence across research, teaching, and service,” says Allen Bradley, departmental executive officer and professor of civil and environmental engineering. “His teaching and service further distinguish him as a dedicated and engaged faculty member who advances both academic programs and real-world practice.”

LeFevre earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering from Michigan Technological University and Master of Science and PhD degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Minnesota. He completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Greg received ARCS Scholar Awards in 2011 and 2012 from the Minnesota Chapter.

Cogratulatoins Greg!!