Chris Olivares

Assistant Professor
UCI

As a researcher, Chris Olivares is passionate about the relationship of microbial processes and pollutants because biological processes can be powerful environmental health indicators. Microbe-pollutant relationships might be impacted by new mechanisms from more frequent wildfires and other extreme weather events.

His research has focused on in‐situ chemical remediation of per‐ and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), as well as the impact of these substances to microbial bioremediation on co-contaminants. He has also researched water quality impacts due to forest fires, and bioremediation and toxicity of munitions compounds.

He is a lifelong swimmer and enjoys oil painting.