Megan Konar

Professional Summary: Professor Megan Konar

Professor Megan Konar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her work focuses on the intersection of water resources, food systems, and global trade, contributing significantly to the understanding of sustainable resource management in a changing world.

Academic Background and Degrees

Dr. Konar holds the following academic credentials:

• Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University (2012)
• M.S. in Water Science, Policy, and Management, University of Oxford (2005)
• B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies, University of California, Berkeley (2002)

Research Specializations and Academic Interests

Professor Konar’s research centers on the sustainability of water and food systems, with a particular emphasis on:

• Global water-food-trade nexus
• Virtual water trade and resource globalization
• Resilience and adaptation in food supply chains
• Quantitative modeling of human-environment systems

Her interdisciplinary approach integrates engineering, economics, and network science to address pressing challenges in resource security and environmental sustainability.

Career History and Appointments

Dr. Konar has held the following positions:

• Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2019–Present)
• Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2013–2019)
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton University (2012–2013)

Major Awards, Fellowships, and Honors

Professor Konar has been recognized for her contributions with several prestigious awards, including:

• National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award (2018)
• Early Career Research Excellence Award, University of Illinois (2019)
• American Geophysical Union (AGU) Hydrologic Sciences Early Career Award (2020)

Key Publications

Dr. Konar has authored numerous influential papers and articles. A selection of her notable works includes:

• Konar, M., et al. 'Water for food: The global virtual water trade network.' Water Resources Research, 2011.
• Konar, M., et al. 'Virtual water trade flows and savings under climate change.' Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 2013.
• Konar, M., et al. 'The water footprint of staple crop trade under climate and policy scenarios.' Environmental Research Letters, 2016.
• Konar, M., et al. 'Scaling properties of food flow networks.' PLOS ONE, 2018.

Influence and Impact on Academic Field

Professor Konar’s pioneering research on virtual water trade has reshaped the understanding of global water resource distribution through food trade networks. Her work has provided critical insights into how water and food security are interconnected across international boundaries, influencing policy discussions on sustainability. Her methodologies, particularly in network analysis and resource modeling, are widely cited and have inspired interdisciplinary approaches in environmental engineering and hydrology.

Public Lectures, Committees, and Editorial Contributions

Dr. Konar is actively engaged in the academic community through various roles:

• Invited Speaker at numerous international conferences, including the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting and the World Water Congress.
• Member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Hydrology Section.
• Editorial Board Member for journals such as Water Resources Research and Environmental Research Letters.
• Reviewer for multiple high-impact journals in water resources and environmental science.