| Education |
2006
|
Ph.D., Agronomy (Environmental Soil Chemistry)
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Dissertation: Influence of clay minerals, humic substances, and soil aggregation
on the fate and bioavailability of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)
Advisor: Dr. Kang Xia
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2002
|
M.S., Agronomy (Soil Science)
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Thesis: The impact of golf course construction and management on soil quality:
Evaluating soil quality with multiple indicators
Advisor: Dr. Steve Thein
|
1999
|
B.S., Environmental Science (Soil Science and Hydrology)
University of Minnesota Twin-Cities, St. Paul, MN.
Graduated with distinction
|
| Academic Employment |
2006 - present
|
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Chemistry
Department of Environmental Science
Department of Chemistry
Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC |
2002 - 2006
|
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
|
2000 - 2002
|
Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant
Department of Agronomy
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
|
| Teaching Experience |
Queens University of Charlotte (Instructor of Record)
CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (Fall 2006)
CHEM 102 General Chemistry II (Spring 2007)
CHEM 305 Quantitative Analysis (Fall 2007)
ENVR 101 Introduction to Environmental Science (Spring 2007)
ENVR 102 Introduction to Geology (Fall 2006, 2007)
HONR 210 Honors Seminar - Receipe for Disaster: Hollywood vs Reality (Fall 2007)
University of Georgia (Graduate Teaching Assistant / Lead Instructor / Guest Lecturer)
CRSS 4670/6670 Soil Chemistry (Spring 2003 - 2006, 4 sections)
CRSS 8540 Soil Mineralogy (Fall 2005)
CRSS 4670L/6670L Soil Chemistry Lab (Spring 2003 - 2005, 3 sections)
CRSS 4510/6510 Contaminants in Soil and Water (Spring 2005)
Kansas State University (Graduate Teaching Assistant / Lead Instructor)
AGRON 305 Soil Science (2000 - 2002, 12 sections)
AGRON 645 Soil Microbiology (Fall 2001)
|
| Publications |
Publications - Peer Reviewed
Xia, K., A. Bhandari, K. Das, and G. Pillar. 2005. Occurence and fate of pharmaceuticals and
personal care products (PPCP's) in biosolids. J. Environ. Qual. 34:91-104
Pillar, G.D., K. Xia, J. Kim, J. Reeves, and M. Williams. 200X. Impact of size fractionation methods on properties
of soil aggregates. Submitted to Soil Science Society of America Journal
Pillar, G.D., K. Xia, and P.F. Hendrix. 200X. Fate of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and microbial community
structure within soil aggregates in the presence of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. To be submitted to the
Journal of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
Pillar, G.D., and K. Xia. 200X. Interaction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene with clay minerals and humic-clay complexes.
To be submitted to the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology.
Pillar, G.D., K. Karnok, and S.J. Thien. 200X. Perceptions and development of graduate student teaching
assistants in introductory soil science courses. To be submitted to the Journal of Natural Resources and
Life Sciences Education
Published Extended Proceedings - Peer Reviewed
Xia, K., and G. Pillar. 2003. Anthropogenic organic chemicals in biosolids from selected
wastewater treatment plants in Georgia and South Carolina. pg. 806-809. In Kathryn Hatcher (ed.)
Proc. 2003 Georgia Water Res. Conf. Athens, GA, April 23-24
|
| Presentations (Poster/Oral) |
Pillar, G.D., K. Karnok and S.J. Thien. 2006. Perceptions, utilization, and training of graduate student teaching
assistants in introductory soil science courses. Presented at the 52nd Annual North American Colleges and
Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Annual Conference, Vancouver, Canada, June 2006
Pillar, G.D., P.F. Hendrix, and K. Xia. 2005. Impact of earthworm activity on the transformation and
distribution of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in soils. Presented at the Annual ASA-SSSA-CSSA Meetings,
Salt Lake City, Utah, November 2005
Pillar, G.D., and K. Xia. 2005. Interaction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene with clay minerals and humic-clay
complexes. Presented at the Annual ASA-SSSA-CSSA Meetings, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 2005
Pillar, G.D., K.Xia, and P.F. Hendrix. 2004. Fate of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in soil aggregates influenced by
earthworm activity. Presented at the Annual ASA-SSSA-CSSA Meetings, Seattle, Washington, November 2004.
Xia, K., G. Pillar, and A. Bhandari. 2004. Fate of personal care products and other organic chemicals in biosolids.
Presented at the Sustainable Land Application Conference, Buena Vista, FL, January 2004.
Pillar, G.D., and K. Xia. 2003. Impact of size fractionation methods on properties of soil aggregates. Presented at
the Annual ASA-SSSA-CSSA Meetings, Denver, Colorado, November 2003.
Xia, K., and G.D. Pillar. 2003. Anthropogenic Organic Compounds in Biosolids. Presented at the Annual ASA-SSSA-CSSA Meetings, Denver, Colorado, November 2003.
Pillar, G.D., and S.J. Thien. 2000. Impact of animal waste compost on turf soil quality. Presented at the Annual
ASA-SSSA-CSSA Meetings, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 2000.
Cecchi, A.M., W.C. Koskinen, G.D. Pillar, K. Haider and H.H. Cheng. 1999. Sorption-desorption of phenolic acids
in soil. Presented at the Annual ASA-SSSA-CSSA Meetings, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 1999 |
| Professional Organizations |
- National Science Teachers Association
- North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture
- Soil Science Society of America
- American Society of Agronomy
- Geological Society of America
- Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
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| Service |
- Queens University of Charlotte
Project Green Queens - Student Club Advisor, 2007
Outoor Club - Student Club Advisor, 2007
University Technology and Web Committee, 2007
- North American Colleges and Teachers for Agriculture (NACTA)
Journal Reviewer, 2006-2007
Teacher Recognition Committee, 2007
- Agronomy Graduate Student Association (AGSA) - UGA
Founder/President, 2003-2004
Vice President, 2004-2005
Webmaster, 2005-2006
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Science - Graduate Student Association - UGA
Treasurer, 2005
Department Representative, 2004-2006
- Graduate Student Association, Graduate Student Council - UGA
Department Representative, 2003-2005
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences - UGA
Soil Discussion Coordinator, 2003
- Agronomy Graduate Student Association (AGSA) - KSU
Webmaster, 2000
Vice President, 2000-2001
President, 2001
|
| Laboratory Skills |
- Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE)
- Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (flame)
- Chromatography (HPLC, GC, IC, and Thin Layer)
- ICP - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS)
- X-ray Diffraction
- Surface area and pore size analysis (BET)
- Liquid scintillation analysis
|
| Honors and Awards |
- Graduate Student Teaching Award, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, 2006
- Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences,
University of Georgia, 2006
- Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Graduate School, University of Georgia, 2006
- Teaching Portfolio Certification, Graduate School, University of Georgia, 2005
- Agronomy Graduate Student Association Choice Service Award, University of Georgia, 2005
- Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society, University of Gergia, 2004
- Graduate Student Teaching Award of Merit, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, 2002
- Ray I. Throckmorton Graduate Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, 2001
- Richard E. Brown Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, 2001
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Kansas State University, 2001
|
| References |
Available upon request |