Jim A. Field
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Professor Emeritus of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
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Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology and Toxicology
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Professor Emeritus of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr. Jim A. Field is currently the assistant dean of engineering and professor at the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Arizona. Prior to serving 20 years at the University of Arizona, Dr. Field worked for 9 years as an assistant professor at Wageningen University (in The Netherlands) in a joint position with the departments of Industrial Microbiology and Environmental Technology. Dr. Field served a post-doctoral researcher in chemical engineering at the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (1989-1991) and earned his PhD at Wageningen University in 1989. Dr. Field has (co-)authored 280 refereed journal publications. His journal publications have been cited 19,000 times and his Google Scholar H Index is 77.
Dr. Field conducts research on the bioremediation, biodegradation and biotransformation of hazardous chemicals. He has worked extensively on the biogeochemical cycling of arsenic; environmental fate of chemicals used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry; biodegradation and biotransformation of nitroaromatic and explosive compounds and the treatment of acid rock drainage.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Environmental Technology
- Wageningen University, Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands
- Effect of tannic compounds on anaerobic wastewater treatment
- M.S. Agronomy
- Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
- B.S. Agronomy
- Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Courses
Microbiology/Engineers
CHEE 477R (Fall 2020)
CHEE 477R (Fall 2019)
CHEE 477R (Fall 2018)
CHEE 477R (Fall 2017)
CHEE 477R (Fall 2016)
CHEE 577R (Fall 2020)
CHEE 577R (Fall 2019)
CHEE 577R (Fall 2018)
CHEE 577R (Fall 2017)
CHEE 577R (Fall 2016)
Independent Study
CHEE 599 (Spring 2017)
CHEE 599 (Spring 2016)
Research
CHEE 900 (Spring 2021)
CHEE 900 (Fall 2020)
CHEE 900 (Spring 2020)
CHEE 900 (Fall 2019)
CHEE 900 (Spring 2019)
CHEE 900 (Fall 2018)
CHEE 900 (Spring 2018)
CHEE 900 (Fall 2017)
CHEE 900 (Spring 2017)
CHEE 900 (Fall 2016)
CHEE 900 (Spring 2016)
Master's Report
CHEE 909 (Spring 2018)
CHEE 909 (Fall 2017)
CHEE 909 (Spring 2017)
CHEE 909 (Fall 2016)
CHEE 909 (Spring 2016)
Thesis
CHEE 910 (Spring 2022)
CHEE 910 (Fall 2021)
CHEE 910 (Spring 2020)
CHEE 910 (Fall 2019)
CHEE 910 (Spring 2019)
CHEE 910 (Fall 2018)
CHEE 910 (Spring 2018)
CHEE 910 (Fall 2017)
CHEE 910 (Summer I 2017)
CHEE 910 (Spring 2017)
CHEE 910 (Fall 2016)
Dissertation
CHEE 920 (Fall 2023)
CHEE 920 (Spring 2023)
CHEE 920 (Fall 2022)
CHEE 920 (Spring 2022)
CHEE 920 (Fall 2021)
CHEE 920 (Spring 2021)
CHEE 920 (Fall 2020)
CHEE 920 (Spring 2020)
CHEE 920 (Fall 2019)
CHEE 920 (Spring 2019)
CHEE 920 (Fall 2018)
CHEE 920 (Spring 2018)
CHEE 920 (Fall 2017)
CHEE 920 (Spring 2017)
CHEE 920 (Fall 2016)
CHEE 920 (Spring 2016)
Selected Publications
Chapters
- Field, J. A., Adrian, L., & , F. E. (2016). Natural Production of Organohalide Compounds in the Environment. In Organohalide-Respiring Bacteria(pp 7-30). Springer-Verlag.
- Olivares, C. I., Abrell, L. M., Chorover, J. D., Simonich, M., Tanguay, R. L., Sierra-Alvarez, R., & Field, J. A. (2016). Identifying toxic biogransformation products of the insensitive munitions compound, 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectromety (LC-QToF-MS),. In Assessing Transformation Products of Chemicals by Non-Target and Suspect-Screening-Strategies and Workflows(pp 133-145). Chapter 9 Volume 1: Drewes, J. and Letzel (Eds). doi:10.1021/bk-2016-1241.ch009
Journals/Publications
- Jog, K. V., Hess, K. Z., Field, J. A., Krzmarzick, M. J., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2021). Aerobic biodegradation of emerging azole contaminants by return activated sludge and enrichment cultures. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 417.
- Kadoya, W. M., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Jagadish, B., Wong, S., Abrell, L., Mash, E. A., & Field, J. A. (2021). Covalent bonding of aromatic amine daughter products of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) with model quinone compounds representing humus via nucleophilic addition. Environmental Pollution, 268.
- Lakhey, N., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Couger, M. B., Krzmarzick, M. J., & Field, J. A. (2021). Anammox enrichment culture has unexpected capabilities to biotransform azole contaminants of emerging concern. Chemosphere, 264.
- Madeira, C. L., Menezes, O., Park, D., Jog, K. V., Hatt, J. K., Gavazza, S., Krzmarzick, M. J., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Spain, J. C., Konstantinidis, K. T., & Field, J. A. (2021). Bacteria Make a Living Breathing the Nitroheterocyclic Insensitive Munitions Compound 3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). Environmental Science and Technology, 55(9), 5806-5814.
- Menezes, O., Kadoya, W. M., Gavazza, S., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Mash, E. A., Abrell, L., & Field, J. A. (2021). Covalent binding with model quinone compounds unveils the environmental fate of the insensitive munitions reduced product 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAAN) under anoxic conditions. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 413.
- Menezes, O., Yu, Y., Root, R. A., Gavazza, S., Chorover, J., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2021). Iron(II) monosulfide (FeS) minerals reductively transform the insensitive munitions compounds 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). Chemosphere, 285.
- Niu, X., Field, J. A., Paniego, R., Pepel, R. D., Chorover, J., Abrell, L., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2021). Bioconcentration potential and microbial toxicity of onium cations in photoacid generators. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(7), 8915-8921.
- Niu, X., Pepel, R. D., Paniego, R., Field, J. A., Chorover, J., Abrell, L., Sáez, A., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2021). Photochemical fate of sulfonium photoacid generator cations under photolithography relevant UV irradiation. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 416.
- Zeng, C., Nguyen, C., Boitano, S., Field, J. A., Shadman, F., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2021). Toxicity of abrasive nanoparticles (SiO2, CeO2, and Al2O3) on Aliivibrio fischeri and human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-). Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 23(2).
- Bueno-López, J. I., Nguyen, C. H., Rangel-Mendeza, J. R., Sierra-Alvarez, R., Field, J. A., & Cervantes, F. J. (2020). Effects of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide on acetoclastic, hydrogenotrophic and methylotrophic methanogenesis", has been accepted for publication in Biodegradation. Biodegradation.
- Bueno-López, J., Nguyen, C. H., Rangel-Mendez, J. R., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Field, J. A., & Cervantes, F. J. (2020). Effects of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide on acetoclastic, hydrogenotrophic and methylotrophic methanogenesis. Biodegradation, 31(1-2), 35-45.
- Jog, K. V., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2020). Rapid biotransformation of the insensitive munitions compound, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), by wastewater sludge. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 36(5).
- Jog, K. V., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2020). Rapid biotransformation of the insensitive munitions compound, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), by wastewater sludge. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, [in press].
- Kadoya, W. M., Sierra-Alvarez, R., Jagadish, B., Wong, S., Abrell, L., Mash, E. A., & Field, J. A. (2020). Covalent Bonding of Aromatic Amine Daughter Products of 2,4-Dinitroanisole (DNAN) with Model Quinone Compounds Representing Humus via Nucleophilic Addition. Environmental Pollution, in press.
- Lakhey, N., Li, G., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2020). Toxicity of azoles towards the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process. J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol., 95(4), 1057-1063.
Proceedings Publications
- Field, J. A., Ramos Ruiz, A., Simon Pascual, A., Zhu, K., & Sierra Alvarez, R. (2017, May). Recovery of Critical Metal and Metalloid Resources by Anaerobic Processes. In The 14th International Water Association, Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies. Innovative technology solutions to address challenges at the water-energy-food interface. May 29th – June 2nd . 2017. Florianópolis, Brazil [KEYNOTE]..
- Field, J. A., Rodriguez-Freire, L. .., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2017, June 2017). Biorremediacion anaerobia de aguas contaminadas con arsenico. In Simposio Internacional: Rio Tinto, aspectos fundamentales y aplicados de un analogo terrestre de Marte. 6th and 7th June 2017 Madrid, Spain [INVITED TALK]..
- Field, J. A., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Ayala, P. (2017, May 2017). Novel electron donors for bioremediation of acid rock drainage.. In Water Reuse Monitoring and Treatment Technologies. May 17th – May 19th, Recife, Brazil [ORAL]..
- Field, J. A., Simon-Pascual, A. .., Zhu, K., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2017, October 2017). Recovery of platinum group metals (PGM) utilizing anaerobic microbial consortia.. In 15th IWA World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion. October 17th - 20th, 2017, Beijing, China [ORAL]..
- Madeira, C. .., Chorover, J., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2017, May 2017). Biodegradation of the emerging insensitive munitions compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) by soil microorganisms. In Platform presentation at Battelles Fourth International Symposium on Bioremediation and Sustainable Environmental Technologies. May 22nd – May 25th, 2017. Miami, Florida [ORAL]..
Poster Presentations
- Field, J. A. (2021, November). Complete Biodegradation of Insensitive High Explosive Compounds. .. November 29 – December 3, 2021. Menezes, O.; Rios-Valenciana, E. E.; Krzmarzick, M. j.; Spain, J. C.; Konstantinidis, K. T.; Sierra-Alvarez, R. , Jim A. Field: SERDP and ESTCP Symposium..
- Field, J. A. (2021, November). High Rate Degradation of 3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) to Environmentally Benign End Products in Sequential Reducing-Oxidizing Reactive Mineral Packed Bed Reactor,. SERDP & ESTCP Symposium, Nov 30th, 2021. High Rate Degradation of 3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) to Environmentally Benign End Products in Sequential Reactorducing-Oxidizing Reactive Mineral Packed Bed Reactor,: Youngjae Yu, Mitchell Miller, Osmar Menezes, Rob Root, Jon Chorover, Reyes Sierra-Alvarez, and Jim A. Field.
- Lakhey, N., Swartzendruber, D., Ding, H., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2019, May 2019). Effects of common wastewater constituents and environmental conditions on Anammox bacterial growth kinetics [Poster Presentation], 2019 AEESP Research and Education Conference, May 14-16; 2019, Tempe, AZ, USA.. N/A.
- Madeira, C. L., Menezes, O., Kalyani, V. J., Brooks, M., Park, D., Konstantinidis, K., Krzmarzick, M. J., Spain, J. C., Sierra-Alvarez, R., & Field, J. A. (2019, Dec 2019). Complete Biodegradation of Insensitive High Explosive Compounds. [Poster]. 2019 SERDP and ESTCP Symposium, Dec 3 - Dec 5, 2019, Washington DC.. N/A.
- Yu, Y., Castrejon, M. R., Madeira, C. L., Sierra-Alvarez, R., Field, J. A., Chorover, J., & Root, R. (2019, Dec 2019). High rate degradation of 3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) to environmentally benign end products in sequential reducing-oxidizing reactive mineral packed bed reactor [Poster]. 2019 SERDP and ESTCP Symposium, Dec 3 - Dec 5, 2019, Washington DC.. N/A.
- Abrell, L., Kadoya, W. M., Madeira, C. L., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Wong, S., Mash Jr, ,. E., Field, J. A., & ., . (2018, Fall). Nitroaromatic pollutants environmental fate characterized by HRAM; Understanding anaerobic formation of azo coupling products.. 66th Am. Soc. For Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics. June 2-3, San Diego, CA. [poster].
- Field, J. A., Dontsova, K. M., Taylor, S., Beal, S., & Kadoya, W. (2018, November). Phototransformation Kinetics and Products of Aqueous 2,4-Dinitroanisole (DNAN).. 2018 SERDP & ESTCP Symposium. Washington, DC: Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).
- Jog, K., Speed, D., Li, G., Nguyen, C. H., Field, J. A., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2018, Fall). Azoles as emerging contaminants and their role in nitrification inhibition.. Semiconductor Environmental Safety & Health Conference (SESHA)/ Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) International High Technology ESH Symposium and Exhibition, April 16-20, Scottsdale, Arizona. [Poster, 3rd prize].
- Kadoya, W. M., Sierra, R., Jagadish, B., Wong, S., Abrell, L., Mash, E. A., & Field, J. A. (2018, Fall). Anaerobic Adduct Formation between Reduced Intermediates of 2,4-Dinitroanisole (DNAN) and Humic Model Compounds.. Symposium of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP); November 27-29; Washington, DC [poster].
- Madeira, C. L., Jog, K. V., Vanover, E. T., Brooks, M. D., Taylor, D. K., Sierra-Alvarez, R., Spain, J. C., Krzmarzick, M. J., & Field, J. A. (2018, Fall). Enrichment culture that biodegrades the reduced metabolite of the insensitive munitions compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) to inorganic products.. SERDP/ESTCP Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop. Nov. 27-30, 2018. Washington DC. [poster].
- Madeira, C. L., Kadoya, W. M., Li, G., Wong, S., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. (2018, Fall). Reductive Biological Pretreatment to Enhance In Situ Chemical Oxidation of Insensitive Munitions Compounds.. SERDP/ESTCP Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop. Nov. 27-30, Washington DC. [poster].
- Nguyen, C. H., Zeng, C., Boitano, S., Shadman, F., Field, J. A., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2018, Fall). Cytotoxicity of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium arsenide (InAs) nanoparticles to human lung epithelial cells.. Semiconductor Environmental Safety & Health Conference (SESHA)/ Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) International High Technology ESH Symposium and Exhibition, April 16-20, Scottsdale, Arizona. [Poster award, 1st prize].
- Vanover, E., Madeira, C. L., Speet, S. A., Abrell, A., Chorover, J., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2018, Fall). Remediation of Insensitive Munitions Compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO).. 2018 Student Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunity (WAESO) Conference. March 2nd. Tempe, AZ. [poster, 3rd prize].
- Abrell, L., Olivares, C. I., Chorover, J., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2016, June). Field, J. A. New 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN; munitions chemical) (bio)transformation products discovered and bioassayed using high resolution UPLC-QToFMS.. 64th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry, San Antonio, TX, USA, Jun 5-9, 2016 [Poster].
- Madeira, C. L., Speet, S. A., Abrell, L., Chorover, J., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2016, November). Biodegradation of the Insensitive Munitions Compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO).. 7th SETAC World Congress/37th SETAC North America Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-10, 2016. Orlando, FL [Poster].
Presentations
- Field, J. A. (2020, December). DNAN & NTO: A Tale of Three Fates.. SERDP ESTCP Symposium 2020 Enhancing DoD’s mission Effectiveness. November 30 - December 4, 2020 . Technical SessionRange Resiliency: Fate, Transport & Mitigation of Legacy & Insensitive High Explosive Constituents Technical Session. Virtual: SERDP & ESTCP.
- Field, J. A. (2019, Sep 2019). Limits of Anaerobic Biodegradability. [Invited Lecture]. Anaerobic Treatment of High-Strength Industrial Wastes 2019 Marquette University Sept. 10-11, 2019 Milwaukee, WI USA. Presentation.
- Field, J. A. (2019, Sep 2019). Methanogenic Granular Sludge for Priority Inorganic Pollutants [Invited talk]. Anaerobic Treatment of High-Strength Industrial Wastes 2019 Marquette University Sept. 10-11, 2019 Milwaukee, WI USA. N/A.
- Field, J. A., Jog, K., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Nguyen, C., & Vanover, E. (2019, May 2019). Biodegradability and Microbial Toxicity of Azoles, the Forgotten Class of Emerging Contaminants, [Oral presentation], Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Research and Education Conference; 2019 May 14-16; Tempe, AZ.. N/A.
- Field, J. A., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Jog, K., Nguyen, C. H., Vanover, E., & Li, J. A. (2019, Jun 2019). Biodegradability and Toxicity of Ubiquitous Azoles to Anaerobic and Post-Treatment Processes [Oral Poster Pitch]. Anaerobic Digestion Conference AD16, Accelerating natural cycles Delft University of Technology, 23-27 June 2019, Delft, The Netherlands. N/A.
- Kadoya, W. M., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Jagadish, B., Wong, S., Abrell, L., Mash, E. A., & Field, J. A. (2019, May 2019). Mechanism of Covalent Incorporation of Nitroaromatic Contaminants into Natural Organic Matter. [Oral presentation] Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Research and Education Conference; 2019 May 14-16; Tempe, AZ.. N/A.
- Kalyani, V. J., Vanover, E., Chi, H. N., He, C., Field, J. A., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. (2019, Nov 2019). Mechanisms of Nitrification Inhibition by Azoles: A Framework to Promote Azole Detoxification, Biodegradation and Green Chemistry [Oral Presentation] Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) Review, Tucson, AZ, Nov 05, 2019.. N/A.
- Lakhey, N., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2019, Nov 2019). The interactions of azole compounds with an anammox enrichment culture: toxicity and biotransformation [Oral Presentation] SETAC North America 40th annual meeting, November, 3-7, 2019, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.. N/A.
- Madeira, C. L., Kadoya, W. M., Li, G., Wong, S., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., & Field, J. A. (2019, May 2019). Biological Pretreatment to Enhance In Situ Chemical Oxidation of Insensitive Munitions Compounds. [Oral presentation] Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Research and Education Conference; 2019 May 14-16; Tempe, AZ.. N/A.
- Niu, X. Z., Abrell, L., Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Field, J. A., & Chorover, J. (2019, Nov 2019). Environmental, Safety & Health Properties of "Onium" Photoacid Generators and their Photodegradation Products. [Oral Presentation] Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) Review, Tucson, AZ, Nov 05, 2019.. N/A.
- Olshansky, Y., Chorover, J., Abrell, L., Field, J. A., Gomeniuc, A., Hatton, J., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2019, March 2019). Sorption of PFAS by Cationic Hydrophobic Polymers [Oral Presentation] 2019 spring American Chemical Society National Meeting. March 31 - April 4, 2019. Orlando, FL.. N/A.
- Ayala-Parra, P. .., Field, J. A., & Sierra-Alvarez., R. 2. (2018, Fall). Nutrient recovery and biogas generation from the anaerobic digestion of waste biomass from algal biofuel production.. Sixth Int. Symp. On Environmental Biotechnology and Engineering. Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. Nov. 5-9. [oral presentation].
- Field, J. A., & Sierra-Alvarez, R. .. (2018, Spring). Methanogenic granular sludge for the bioremediation and biorecovery of priority inorganic pollutants.. IWA Biofilms: Granular Sludge Conference , March 18-21, 2018, Delft, The Netherlands [oral talk & won best speaker award].
- Sierra Alvarez, M. R., Field, J. A., Nguyne, C. H., Zeng, C., Borrero, N., Sherwood, C. L., McCorkel, M., & Boitano, S. A. (2018, Spring). Nanoparticle toxicity: cytotoxic and sub-cytotoxic measurements using xCELLigence real time cell analysis. 4th Conference on Impedance-Based Cellular Assays, 6th-8th June 2018 (Oral presentation). Edinburgh, UK.
- Sierra-Alvarez, R. .., Olshansky, Y., Field, J. A., Abrell, L., Hatton, J., Gomeniuc, A., & Chorover, J. (2018, Fall). ER18-1052: Remediation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Contaminated Groundwater Using Cationic Hydrophobic Polymers as Ultra-High Affinity Sorbents. SERDP/ESTCP Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop. Nov. 27-30, 2018. Washington DC. [Oral Presentation].
Others
- Dontsova, K. M., Field, J. A., & Johnson, M. (2016, June 2016). SERDP ESTCP Webinar # 34. Insensitive munitions. SERDP ESTCP webinar series. https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Tools-and-Training/Webinar-Series/06-02-2016
Awards
- Best Speaker Award
- IWA Granular Sludge Conference, Spring 2018
- Arizona Leadership Institute
- University of Arizona, Fall 2017
- International Water Association Fellow
- International Water Association, Fall 2016
- Honors professor
- Selected as Honors Professor for 2013 and 2014 by the Honors College, Fall 2014