Jeffrey B. Taub Award
Jeffrey B. Taub will always be remembered by the graduate students and faculty at Duke University for his maturity of thought, his independence, and as an individual who successfully integrated past training with the environmental engineering profession. Jeff arrived at Duke in June of 1980, the result of his careful decision-making process to change careers from a prominent high school physics teacher in New York State to an environmental engineer. Jeff extended his knowledge of engineering in general and environmental engineering in particular by rigorous courses and by dedicating himself to his research.
With maturity and independence, he applied himself to the development of his new career. His efforts were rewarded and the results of his work at Duke are widely published. "Hazardous Waste Generated by the Academic Departments of Duke University," January, 1981, was a report prepared by Jeff which successfully assisted the University in addressing this monumental problem. "Instabilization in the Air Classification of Fuels," Journal of the Energy Engineering Division of the American Society of Engineers, June, 1983, made a major contribution to the theory and application of air classification. "Instabilities in Air Classification of Refuse Derived Fuel," Fourth Symposium and Biotechnology in Energy Production and Conservation by Oak Ridge National Laboratories, May, 1982, added to the understanding of the problems while producing needed energy. "Regional Alternatives for Solid Waste Disposal and Resource Recovery in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill," was a report prepared by Jeff which received regional and statewide attention.
Jeff also valued other parts of his life, fellow graduate students in general and one friend in particular. He annually led the environmental engineering graduate students and (some) faculty into battles on the soccer and softball fields. Rumor has it that Nancy Wittenberg, a fellow graduate student at the time, was so impressed with Jeff's ability to play third base that she subsequently agreed to his proposal of marriage.
Jeff was tragically killed in an automobile accident enroute to a hazardous waste managed facility while working for the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency. Jeff and Nancy missed the opportunities of marriage by several weeks, but together, and Jeff in particular, will always be remembered at Duke through the Jeffrey B. Taub Environmental Engineering Graduate Student Award. This award is presented annually by the environmental engineering graduate students to a current student who best exhibits Jeff's maturity of thought and independence, and who best integrates past training with the environmental engineering profession.
The names of the recipients of this award are inscribed on a plaque displayed in the Engineering building, as well as being listed below.
Year Recipient 2013 Lauren Barton 2012 Jeff Farner-Budarz 2011 Jeff Farner-Budarz 2010 David Jassby 2009 Andreas Gondikas 2008 Zachary Hendren 2007 Christine Robichaud 2006 Ellen M. Cooper 2005 Erik J. Rosenfeldt 2004 Hadas Mamane-Gravetz 2003 Ki Don Cho 2001 Baneeta Sabherwal 2000 Ross M. Tabachow 1999 Daniel A. Vallero 1998 Jennifer M. Armstrong 1997 James M. Sperry 1996 Banu Ormeci 1995 Selim Sanin 1994 Aysen Ucuncu Erdingler 1993 Dilek F. Sanin 1992 Zhenhua Jiang 1991 Laura J. Steinberg 1990 Laura J. Steinberg 1989 Laura J. Steinberg 1988 Karen Ann Streich 1987 Brian Wilson Baetz 1986 Tomas Alan Peel 1985 Georgeann Morekas 1984 Richard I. Stessel 1983* Janet Baker
*Award established
