Nasrin Alamdari, assistant professor of civil & environmental engineering at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, poses by Central Pond/Balgam Pond in Innovation Park in Tallahassee, Florida. (Scott Holstein/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering)
Nasrin Alamdari honored with prestigious A. Ivan Johnson Award for groundbreaking work in water quality prediction and green infrastructure
Nasrin Alamdari, an assistant professor at Florida State University and the joint FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has been selected to receive the prestigious A. Ivan Johnson Award for Young Professionals from the American Water Resources Association (AWRA). The national recognition highlights her innovative research combining artificial intelligence with environmental water management solutions.
Leading the Fight Against Harmful Algal Blooms
Alamdari’s research addresses one of Florida’s most pressing environmental challenges: harmful algal blooms that threaten the state’s waterways and ecosystems. Her work focuses on identifying the complex root causes of these blooms while developing predictive AI models to forecast and prevent future occurrences.
“This award is only given to one young water resources professional nationally,” said Lisa Spainhour, chair of the civil and environmental engineering department. “It’s a remarkable opportunity to spotlight Professor Alamdari’s vital work in green infrastructure and stormwater resilience planning. Her work is at the cutting edge of the scientific field, but it always focuses on effective implementation strategies to bring those theories into practical application.”
Pioneering AI Applications in Water Quality Management
The assistant professor’s research represents a cutting-edge approach to environmental stewardship, merging machine learning algorithms with traditional water quality monitoring methods. Her AI-driven prediction models aim to provide early warning systems for harmful algal blooms, potentially saving millions of dollars in environmental cleanup costs and protecting public health.
Continuing a Legacy of Mentorship
The A. Ivan Johnson Award specifically recognizes young professionals who demonstrate leadership potential in water resources research, management and education. The award honors A. Ivan Johnson’s dedication to mentoring emerging professionals in the field—a tradition Alamdari continues by actively engaging students in research opportunities within her laboratory.
Alamdari will be formally recognized at the AWRA’s Annual Water Resources Conference awards ceremony on November 12, 2025.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with a custom prompt for Claude Sonnet 4, an AI assistant created by Anthropic. The AI optimized the article for SEO discoverability, improved clarity, structure and readability while preserving the original reporting and factual content. All information and viewpoints remain those of the author and publication. This article was edited and fact-checked by college staff before being published. This disclosure is part of our commitment to transparency in our editorial process. Last edited: 09-22-2025.
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