Amy E. Childress, PhD, is the Gabilan Distinguished Professor of Science and Engineering and is the Director of Environmental Engineering in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering at University of Southern California. Her interests include wastewater reclamation and seawater desalination.

​

Childress' research addresses the global challenge of freshwater scarcity, including membrane contactor processes for innovative solutions to contaminant and energy challenges, pressure-driven membrane processes for desalination and water reuse, membrane bioreactor technology, and colloidal and interfacial aspects of membrane processes. 

 

Childress leads a research group that has produced many peer-reviewed publications, papers, and patents. She has directed research projects funded by many federal, state, local, and private agencies. She has a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland, and MS and PhD degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles.