Curriculum Vitae
PDF Version: Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) (Updated 03/20/08)
Web Version: (updated 05/07/07)

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

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

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