The Grainger College of Engineering

Paul C. Davidson

Paul C. Davidson
Paul C. Davidson
  • Associate Professor
(217) 300-3755
360 E Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building

Education

  • Ph.D., Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois, 2010
  • M.S., Agricultural Engineering, University of Illinois, 2007
  • B.S., Agricultural Engineering, University of Illinois, 2005
  • A.S., Olney Central College, 2003

Biography

Dr. Davidson's research focuses on water quality from both agricultural and urban systems to waterways. His research team is actively exploring ways to (1) reduce nutrient losses from agricultural land and reduce the extent of eutrophication in surface water systems, (2) treat wastewater using a range of physical, chemical, and biological approaches to capture nutrients while removing potentially toxic compounds for re-use in hydroponic cropping systems, and (3) implement innovative permeable pavement systems in urban areas to mitigate flooding, reduce pavement temperatures to alleviate the effects of urban heat islands, and capture airborne particulate matter from vehicular traffic. Dr. Davidson's research team has previously explored ways to better understand the fate and transport of microbial pathogens, such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanensis, E. coli, and Salmonella in the soil and water environment.

Academic Positions

  • Associate Professor, University of Illinois, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2020-present
  • Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2014-2020
  • USDA National Needs Fellow, University of Illinois, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2007-2010
  • Graduate Research Assistant, University of Illinois, Agricultural Engineering, 2005-2007

Other Professional Employment

  • Agricultural Engineer, Waterborne Environmental, Inc., Champaign, IL, 2008-2013

Teaching Statement

Dr. Davidson teaches courses related to water (ABE 199 CHP/ ABE 152 - Water in the Global Environment) and project management (ETMA 132 - Basics of Project Management and ABE/ETMA 430 - Project Management). On the topic of project management, he is also assessing how students best learn project management skills through a range of both conceptual and hands-on experiences with the goal of providing better and more impactful project management learning opportunities for our students.

Resident Instruction

  • ETMA 132 (Basics of Project Management)
  • ABE/ETMA 430 (Project Management)
  • ABE 199 CHP (Water in the Global Environment)
  • ABE 152 (Water in the Global Environment)

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Please email Dr. Davidson if you are interested in exploring undergraduate research opportunities.

Chapters in Books

  • Miller, P.S., Andrus, J.M., Davidson, P.C., Jones, R.L., Harbourt, C.M., & Zhang, X. (2014). Chapter 3: Determining critical factors controlling off-Site transport of pyrethroids in the urban environment. In Describing the behavior and effects of pesticides in urban and agricultural settings (pp. 27-64), ACS Symposium Series. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2014-1168.ch003
  • Jones, R.L., Davidson, P.C., Harbourt, C.M., & Hendley, P. 2014. Chapter 2: Factors affecting residential runoff transport of pyrethroids. In Describing the behavior and effects of pesticides in urban and agricultural settings (pp. 13-25). ACS Symposium Series. DOI: 10.1021/bk-2014-1168.ch002
  • Ting, K.C., Lin, T., & Davidson, P.C. (2016). Chapter 2: Integrated urban controlled environment agriculture systems. In LED lighting for urban agriculture (pp. 19-36) Springer Singapore. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-1848-0

Selected Articles in Journals

  • Ahmad, A., Kawale, H.D., Summers, S., Bogarin Cantero, B.C., Allen, C.M., Hajj, R.M., Davidson, P.C., Zhang, Y., & Li, Y. (2026). Financial viability and carbon intensity of hydrothermal waste valorization systems for bio-based asphalt binder. Chem. Eng. J. 528:172283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.172283
  • Bogarin Cantero, B.C., Li, Y., Kalita, P.K., Zhang, Y., & Davidson, P.C. (2025). Recovery of nutrients from the aqueous phase of hydrothermal liquefaction – A Review. Water, 17(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142099 
  • Chen, L.M., Chen, J.W., Lecher, T., & Davidson, P.C. (2025). A field-scale assessment of the impact of conventional and permeable concrete pavements on surface and air temperatures. Environ., 12(6), 192. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12060192 
  • Perez, O., Chen, L.M., Chen, J.W., Lecher, T.J., Simpson, L.A., Chen, T.H., & Davidson, P.C. (2025). Monitoring the permeability and evaluating the impact of cleaning on two permeable pavement systems. Water, 17(14):2140. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142140 
  • Bogarin Cantero, B.C., Zhang, Y., & Davidson, P.C. (2024). Electrolysis of HTL-AP for nutrient recovery by converting cyclic nitrogen to nitrate-N fertilizer. Environ. Poll. 336:125069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125069 
  • Jha, R.K., Kalita, P.K., Cooke, R.A., Kumar, P., Davidson, P.C., & Jat, R. (2024). Assessment of different frameworks for addressing climate change impact on crop production and water requirement. Water, 16, 1992. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16141992 
  • Leme, V.F.C., Lopez, K., Costa, T., Conerty, B., Leonelli, L.B., Zhang, Y., & Davidson, P.C. (2024). Hydrothermal liquefaction aqueous mycoremediation to increase inorganic nitrogen availability. Heliyon. 10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31992 
  • Lopez, K., Leme, V.F.C., Warzecha, M., & Davidson, P.C. (2024). Wastewater nutrient recovery via fungal and nitrifying bacteria treatment. Agric. 14, 580. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040580 
  • Regmi, S., Davidson, P.C., & Allen, C. (2024). Yield impact of data-informed surface drainage: An on-farm case study. Agric. 14, 2210. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122210 
  • Reynolds, L., Leme, V.F.C., & Davidson, P.C. (2024). Investigating the impacts of wastewaters on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seed germination and growth. Agric. 14, 608. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040608 
  • Rice, A., Urban, A., & Davidson, P. (2024). Predictive modeling of dining facility waste by material type across time and geography. Discov. Appl. Sci. 6:103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-024-05744-1 
  • Chandrasoma, J., Christianson, R.D., Davidson, P.C., Cooke, R.A., & Christianson, L.E. (2022). Seepage-corrected N loss reduction assessment for the practice of controlled drainage in Illinois. Proc. 11th International Drainage Symposium. St. Joseph, MI: ASABE. https://doi.org/10.13031/ids.202200019 
  • Chandrasoma, J., Christianson, R., Cooke, R.A., Davidson, P.C., Lee, D.K., & Christianson, L. (2022). Saturated buffer design flow and performance in Illinois. J. Environ. Qual., 51:389-398. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20344 
  • Hughes, D., Green, M.L., Warner, J.K., & Davidson, P.C. (2021). Evaluation exclusion barriers for treefrogs in agricultural landscapes. Wildl. Soc. Bull., 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1168 
  • Adhikari, N., Davidson, P.C., Cooke, R.A., & Book, R.S. (2020). Drainmod-linked interface for evaluating drainage system response to climate scenarios. Appl. Eng. Agric., 36(3): 303-319. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.13383 
  • Chen, L.M., Chen, J.W., Lecher, T., Chen, T.H., & Davidson, P.C. (2020). Assessment of clogging of permeable pavements by measuring change in permeability. Sci. Total Environ., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141352 
  • Jha, R.K., Kalita, P.K., Cooke, R.A., Kumar, P., Davidson, P.C., & Jat, R. (2020). Predicting the water requirement for rice production as affected by projected climate change in Bihar, India. Water, 12 (12), 3312. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123312 
  • Chen, L.M., Chen, J.W., Chen, T.H., Lecher, T., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). Measurement of permeability and comparison of pavements. Water, 11(3), 444. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11030444 
  • Dunderman, L.S., Verma, S., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). Evaluation of sodium omadine for short term preservation of nitrate-N and orthophosphate in water samples. Applied Sciences, 9(7), 1450. https://doi.org/10.3390/app9071450 
  • Holscher, J.A., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). Impact of annual ryegrass on nitrate-N losses during one growing season of maize in the Midwestern United States – An on-farm case study. J. Water Resource Prot., 11(5), 606-625. https://doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2019.115035 
  • Hughes, D., Green, M.L., Witola, W.H., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). There's a frog in my salad! A review of online media coverage for wild vertebrates found in prepackaged produce in the United States, Science of the Total Environment, In press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.254 
  • Jesse, S.D., Zhang, Y., Margenot, A.J., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). Hydroponic lettuce production using treated post-hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater (PHW). Sustainability, 11(13), 3605. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133605 
  • Jesse, S.D., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). Treatment of post-hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater (PHWW) for heavy metals, nutrients, and indicator pathogens. Water, 11(4), 854. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040854 
  • Miller, M.R., Onstad, N.H., Green, M.L., Witola, W.H., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). System to evaluate movement of biological contaminants in soil. Environments, 6(3), 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments6030033 
  • Onstad, N.H., Beever, J.E., Miller, M.R., Green, M.L., Witola, W.H., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). Cyclospora cayetanensis presence in the environment – A case study in the Chicago metropolitan area. Environments, 6(7), 80. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments6070080 
  • Onstad, N.H., Miller, M.R., Green, M.L., Witola, W.H., & Davidson, P.C. (2019). A review of Cyclospora cayetanensis in the environment. Trans. ASABE, 62(3), 795-802. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13313 
  • Wang, Y., Villamil, M.B., Davidson, P.C., & Akdeniz, N. (2019). A quantitative understanding of the role of co-composted biochar in plant growth using meta-analysis. Sci. Total Environ., 685, 741-752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.244 
  • Bhattarai, R., Davidson, P.C., Kalita, P.K., & Kuhlenschmidt, M.S. (2017). Modeling effect of cover condition and soil type on rotavirus transport in surface flow. Journal of Water and Health, 15(4), 545-554. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2017.240 
  • Davidson, P. C., Kuhlenschmidt, T.B., Bhattarai, R., Kalita, P.K., & Kuhlenschmidt, M.S. (2016). Overland transport of rotavirus and the effect of soil type and vegetation. Water: Special Issue on BMP Development, Implementation, and Performance, 8(3), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/w8030078 
  • Jones, R.L., Trask, J.R., Hendley, P., Cox, M.J., Chepega, J.C., Harbourt, C.M., and Davidson, P.C. (2016). Effects of formulation on transport of pyrethroids in residential settings. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 35(2), 340-347. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3188 
  • Davidson, P. C., Kuhlenschmidt, T.B., Bhattarai, R., Kalita, P.K., & Kuhlenschmidt, M.S. (2014). Effects of soil type and cover condition on Cryptosporidium parvum transport in overland flow. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 225(3), 1882-1894. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-1882-4 
  • Davidson, P. C., Jones, R.L., Harbourt, C.M., Hendley, P., Goodwin, G.E., & Sliz, B.A. (2014). Major transport mechanisms of pyrethroids in residential settings and effects of mitigation measures. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 33(1), 52-60. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.2411 
  • Davidson, P. C., Kuhlenschmidt, T.B., Bhattarai, R., Kalita, P.K., & Kuhlenschmidt, M.S. (2013). Investigation of rotavirus survival in different soil fractions and temperature conditions. Journal of Environmental Protection, 4(7A), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2013.47A001 
  • Koch, D. J., Davidson, P. C., Kalita, P.K., Kuhlenschmidt, M.S., & Kuhlenschmidt, T.B. (2013). Fate and transport of Cryptosporidium parvum under small-scale rainfall simulator. Journal of Medical Research and Development, 2(4), 92-99.

Articles in Conference Proceedings

  • Davidson, P.C., Johnson, T., Goldstein, M.H., and Hollenback, B. (2024). Enhancing Project Management Skills in Engineering Curricula and Beyond. ASEE Engineering Technology Division (ASEE Conference in Portland, OR). Paper ID #42589

Abstracts (in print or accepted)

  • Thissen, J., & Davidson, P.C. (2020). JA: 2021-39. Development of safety scores for selected greenhouse production facilities in North America. J. Agromedicine, 25(3), 262-262

Service to Federal and State Government

  • Illinois Nutrient Monitoring Council
  • Southern Extension and Research Activities committee number 46 (SERA 46), Framework for Nutrient Reduction Strategy Collaboration: the Role for Land Grant Universities

Teaching Honors

  • John Clyde and Henrietta Downey Spitler Teaching Award, ACES (2025)
  • Education Innovation Fellow, Academy for Excellence in Engineering Education, The Grainger College of Engineering, UIUC (2022-2025)
  • NACTA Teaching Award of Merit Certificate (2022)
  • Collins Award for Innovative Teaching, The Grainger College of Engineering, UIUC (2022)
  • University of Illinois Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising (2022)
  • University of Illinois Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2021)
  • Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Adviser Award, ACES, UIUC (2021)
  • A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) (2020)
  • College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and Paul A. Funk Recognition Awards, College Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching (2020)
  • North American Colleges of Teachers in Agriculture (NACTA) Educator Award (2019)
  • Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (UIUC) J. Kent Mitchell Teaching Excellence Award (2017)
  • Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (UIUC) Ben and Georgeann Jones Excellence in Teaching Award (2016)

Recent Courses Taught

  • ABE 152 - Water in Global Environment
  • ABE 199 CHP - Water in the Global Environ
  • ABE 430 (ETMA 430, TSM 430) - Project Management
  • ACES 101 - Contemporary Issues in ACES
  • ETMA 132 - Basics of Project Management
  • PSM 555 - PSM Internship
  • TSM 132 - Basics Project Mgmt
  • TSM 439 - Capstone Experience

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