Photograph of man in canoe at sunset.
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Douglas G. Mose, Ph.D.

Office: Science & Technology I, Room 329
Phone: (703) 993-1068
Fax: (703) 993-1055
Email: dmose@gmu.edu

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Curriculum Vitae

INTERESTS

With faculty and graduate student participation, we have been involved in the measurement and removal of contaminants in water, air and soil. Of particular interest has been mercury (primarily from the combustion of coal for electrical power), radioactivity (primarily from the natural decay of uranium in rocks, soil and water), and petroleum products (primarily from large and small storage facilities). Our projects have concentrated on the measurement and removal of these almost ubiquitous water and air contaminants, commonly found in the home environments, often where the occupants do not have funds to implement measurement and mitigation. Also, with the aid of the local construction and farming community, we have been developing the use of photovoltaic power (solar panel technology) to obtain and circulate water and air in off-the-grid greenhouse and home developments for farming families with little or no hydrocarbon-based electrical power.   

Professional Appointments

  • Groundwater Geologist, Illinois State Geological Survey (1965)
  • Petroleum Geologist, Shell Oil Company (summers of 1967, 1969)
  • Research Assistant, Geochemistry, University of Kansas (1965‑1971)
  • Assistant Professor, Brooklyn College, CUNY (1971‑75)
  • Associate Professor, George Mason University (1975‑1978)
  • Professor, George Mason University (1978‑present)


Education

  • Ph.D. Chemistry and Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 1971
  • M.S. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas,1968
  • B.S. Chemistry and Geology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 1965


Funded Research Projects (1990-present)

  • 1976-89: 15 grants for geology and chemistry investigations
  • 1989-91: Hearth Stones, VT: Radon Emission From Building Stone
  • 1989-90: Subcontract, CIT/GMU grant: Linking Televised Teaching with Computer Supported Interaction, New Technologies for Distance Learning
  • 1993-94: Prince William Institute Multi-Media Grant
  • 1994-96: Prince William County Contract to Study Radioactivity of Drinking Water in the Public Water Supply
  • 1996-97: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department: Investigation of Hazmat Transportation & Hazmat Spills in Fairfax
  • 1997-98: GMU Curriculum Development Program: New Field Trips for Environmental Science


Professional Experience

I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Brooklyn College and George Mason University. My appointment at Brooklyn College (1971‑1975) carried the administrative duties required for the operation of a geochemistry laboratory and the direction of student research. My appointment at George Mason University began in 1975, in the Department of Chemistry which had been designated by the University to be the parent department for the geology program. I hired four geology faculty, acquired the teaching materials, designed the teaching and research rooms in Robinson hall and David King Hall, and prepared the requisite catalog and Virginia State Board of Higher Education documentation for a Bachelor of Science in Geology. The geology degree program began in 1980. I was the geology program coordinator from 1979 to 1982, and the Chairman of the Department of Geology from 1982 to 1990.

My teaching experience includes undergraduate and graduate courses in geology, chemistry, environmental science, and general science courses in cross-discipline experimental programs at George Mason University (PAGE and BA/SIC). During the 1980-1990 interval, I prepared a large number of instructional material on videotape, to add to my classroom material and to broadcast on cable television systems for community education in the areas of geology, chemistry, environmental science and environmental law.

In 1991, I returned to the Chemistry Department to conduct environmental geochemical research with Chemistry faculty, and to teach undergraduate and graduate courses. I serve as the Director of the Center for Basic and Applied Science, a non-profit research corporation, and on occasion I provide environmental consulting services to corporations and law firms.

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Committee Service

I have attempted to learn as much as possible about the operation of the University community by numerous activities within the University. To this end, I have served on many committees, many more than once. Prior to 2000, I served on: Search Committee for Dean of Graduate Studies, GMU Self-Evaluation Committee on Research, Office of Academic Affairs Lecture Series, Faculty Senate, Senate Committee on Educational Aid and Faculty Research, Senate Curriculum Matters Committee, Senate Teacher/Course Evaluation Committee, Senate Admissions Committee, Senate Cultural Affairs Committee, Senate Social Affairs Committee, Senate Committee on Facilities and Support Services, Senate Campus Access Committee, Senate Committee on Nominations, Senate Continuing/Alternative Learning and BIS Committee, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Advisory Committee to the GMU Scientific Research Instruments Facility (SRIF), CAS Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, CAS Faculty Lecture Series Selection Committee, CAS Graduation Appeals Committee, CAS Curriculum Committee, CAS Academic Appeals Committee, CAS Committee on Committees, CAS Compensation and Benefits Committee, CAS Grievance Committee,and the Senate Committee on Writing Across the Curriculum. Since 2000, I have enjoyed serving on the CAS Radiation Safety Review Board (1983-present), the CAS Promotion and Tenure Committee (1989‑92, 1993-1996, 2003-2006), the CAS Council (Chemistry Representative: 2001-2003, 2003-2005), the CAS Council Curriculum Committee (2001-2003, 2003-2005), and the Senate Committee on Non-Traditional, Interdisciplinary and Adult Learning (2002-2004).


Research Activities

My areas of field experience include Coastal Maine, the Berkshire Mountains, Hudson Highlands, Adirondack Mountains, the Blue Ridge and Piedmont from Virginia to Georgia, the Central Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the St. Francois Mountains in Missouri and the Ouachita Mountains in Oklahoma.

My areas of interest include the structure and geochronology of mountain systems, radiation geochemistry, hazardous waste management, the development of innovative methodology for science education (mainly to merge hands-on laboratory experiences with field trips), the natural radioactivity of indoor air, drinking water, and soil (mainly to create maps of radiation problem areas in Virginia and other states), the measurement and mitigation of subsurface hydrocarbon plumes (mainly in residential areas), the movement of mercury in the atmosphere (mainly to find the degree to which it accumulates in drinking water), and environmental problems in Eastern Europe (mainly to develop international cooperation).

To present a sample of my research activities, in the following section I list my scientific contributions (presentations and publications), starting in the year 2000.

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Presentations at Professional Conferences
(* = first author) (180+ presentations prior to 2000)

  • 2000 Relative risk of radon-induced lung cancer in small verses large homes: Northcentral Section, Geological Society of America, Indianapolis, Indiana, April 6-7 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2000* Criteria used to evaluate indoor radon potential: Northcentral Section, Geological Society of America, Indianapolis, Indiana, April 6-7 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2000* Predictability of indoor radon using soil radon and permeability: Southeastern Section, Geological Society of America, Charleston, South Carolina, March 22-24 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2000 Influence of local geology on indoor radon in Virginia and Maryland: Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America, New Brunswick, New Jersey, March 13-15 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2000* Variations of radon in well water in Virginia and Maryland: Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America, New Brunswick, New Jersey, March 13-15 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2000* Application of vapor phase measurements to delineate a subsurface hydrocarbon plume: 16th Annual Conference on Contaminated Soils & Water, Amherst, Massachusetts, October 16-19 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2001* Radon variations in potable well water in Virginia and Maryland: North-central Section, Geological Society of America,Normal, Illinois, April 23-24 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2001 Biofuels as a means to improve petroleum fuels: Northcentral Section, Geological Society of America, Normal, Illinois, April 23-24 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2001* Development of criteria to evaluate indoor radon potential in east coast homes: 17th Annual Conference on Contaminated Soils & Water, Amherst, Massachusetts, October 22-25(with G. Mushrush).
  • 2001 Addition of soybean derived fuel to improve quality and stability of middle distillate fuels: 17th Annual Conference on Contaminated Soils & Water, Amherst, Massachusetts, October 22-25 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2001 Radon in potable water well water: Virginia Water Research Symposium 2001, Charlottesville, Virginia, November 14-16 (with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2002* Rapid migration of a large hydrocarbon plume in saprolite: Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America, Springfield, MA, March 25-27 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2002 Geotechnical measurements to characterize indoor radon potential: Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America, Springfield, MA, March 25-27 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2002 Soybean additive to improve fuel quality and stability: Northcentral/Southeastern Combined Section, Geological Society of America, University of Kentucky in Lexington, April 3-5 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2002* Indoor radon potential related to geology and other factors: Northcentral/Southeastern Combined Section, Geological Society of America, Univ. Kentucky in Lexington, April 3-5 (with G. Mushrush).
  • 2002 Exposure to airborne radiation in Fairfax County, Virginia: Annual Middle Atlantic Meeting, American Chemical Society, Fairfax, Virginia, May 28-30 (with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2002* Pre- and post-mitigation measurements of indoor radon in homes with excessive radon concentrations: 18th Annual Conference on Contaminated Soils & Water, Amherst, Massachusetts, October 21-24 (with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2002 Indoor radon measurements from homes in southern Poland:18th Annual Conference on Contaminated Soils & Water, Amherst, Massachusetts, October 21-24 (with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2003 Effect of water table fluctuations on radon emanation from soil: Combined Southcentral and Southeastern Section Meeting, Geological Society of America, Abstracts Volume 35, No. 1, p. 3, Memphis, Tennessee, March 12-14 (with P. Merolla and A. King).
  • 2003 Extremely high indoor radon on the Peters Creek Schist in Virginia: Combined Southcentral and Southeastern Section Meeting, Geological Society of America, Abstracts Volume 35, No. 1, p.3, Memphis, Tennessee, March 12-14 (with P. DiBenedetto and M. Rojas).
  • 2003 Well-to-home loss of waterborne radon: Combined Southcentral and Southeastern Section Meeting, Geological Society of America, Abstracts Volume 35, No. 1, p., Memphis, Tennessee, March 12-14 (with C. Chrosniak and F. Simoni).
  • 2003 Total-gamma radioactivity as an indicator of indoor radon potential: Combined Southcentral and Southeastern Section Meeting, Geological Society of America, Abstracts Volume 35, No.1, p.3, Memphis, Tennessee, March 12-14 (with M. Rojas and G. Mushrush).
  • 2003 Soil radon measurements in southern Poland: Combined Southcentral and Southeastern Section Meeting,Geological Society of America, Abstracts Volume 35, No.1, p.3, Memphis, Tennessee, March 12-14 (with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2003* Interaction between water table depth and radon concentration: Annual Meeting, Virginia Academy of Science, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, May 28-30 (with G. Mushrush and P. Merolla).
  • 2003* Selection of home construction sites based on radon potential: Annual Meeting, Virginia Academy of Science, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, May 28-30 (with G. Mushrush and P. DiBenedetto).
  • 2003 High waterborne radon in Prince William County: Annual Meeting, Virginia Academy of Science, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, May 28-30 (with G. Mushrush and C. Chrosniak).
  • 2003 Influence of geology on indoor radon in Poland: Annual Meeting, Virginia Academy of Science, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, May 28-30 (with G. Mushrush and G. Saiway).
  • 2003 Mitigation of acid mine drainage and other contamination in Prince William Forest park in northern Virginia: Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, October 20-23 (with M. Komelasky and G. Mushrush).
  • 2003 Reduction of radon in municipal wells in Virginia and Maryland: Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, October 20-23 (with M. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2003 Laboratory simulations of groundwater depth changes and soil radon emanation: Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, October 20-23 (with P. Merolla and G. Mushrush).
  • 2003 Correlation test between indoor radon and surficial gamma radiation in northern Virginia: Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water,University of Massachusetts in Amherst, October 20-23 (with G. Saiway and G. Mushrush).
  • 2003 Initial results from new mercury deposition network stations near Culpeper, and at Shenandoah National Park-Big Meadow: Air Quality IV Meeting, Washington, DC, September 22-24 (with A. Kolker, C. Gordan, S. Spitzer, M. Niles, C. Sweet and R. Brunette).
  • 2003 Environmental risk and well-to-home loss of waterborne radon in northern Virginia: Virginia Water Research Symposium, VPI&SU in Blacksburg, VA, October 8-10 (with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2004 Preliminary results for new mercury deposition (MDN) stations in Virginia, Implications for mercury deposition levels in the mid-Atlantic region: Geological Society of America, NE-SE Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 2, p. 66 (with A.Kolker, G. Gordon and S.Spitzer).
  • 2004 Filling a gap, MDN Stations VA-08 (Culpeper) and VA-28) (Shenandoah National Park-Big Meadows)in Virginia: National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), Scientific Symposium in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
  • 2004 Influence of home size on the risks from soil-gas and waterborne indoor radon: Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, October 18-21 (with G. Saiway and F. Simoni).
  • 2004 Development of radon enrichment in soil gas over quartz-mica schist in Virginia: Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, October 18-21 (with C.Chrosniak, P. DiBenedetto and George Mushrush).
  • 2004 Contamination caused by acid mine drainage and other point sources in the Prince William Forest national park in northern Virginia: Geological Society of America, NE-SE Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 2, March 25-27 (with M. Komalowsky and G.Mushrush).
  • 2005 Measurement uncertainty of activated charcoal and alpha-track indoor radon monitors: Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, October 17-20 (with G.Mushrush and F.Simoni).
  • 2005* Summer indoor radon found to exceed winter indoor radon: Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, October 17-20 ((with G.Mushrush and G.Saiway).
  • 2005* Fuel potential of the Green River shale oil: Geological Society of America, NE-SE Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 2, March 14-16 (with G.Mushrush and M.Streaks).
  • 2005* Above-average radon risk in small private-well homes: Geological Society of America, NE-SE Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 2, March 14-16 (with G. Mushrush and A. King).
  • 2005* Measurement of indoor radon in geologically diverse terranes: Geological Society of America, National Meeting in Salt Lake City, Oct. 16-19 (with G.Mushrush).

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Publications in Scientific Journals or Books
(* = first author) (125 publications prior to 2000)

  • D. Mose and G. Mushrush, Long term bioremediation of a subsurface (hydrocarbon) plume in silty soil. Energy Sources, 22, 393-402 (2000).
  • D. Mose, G. Mushruch and F. Simoni, Variations in well water radon in Virginia and Maryland. Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, A36(9), 1647-1660 (2001).
  • 2001 Biofuels as a means of improving the quality of petroleum middle distillate fuels: Energy Sources, v. 23, p. 649-655 (with G. Mushrush, C. Wray and K. Sullivan).
  • 2002* Radon concentrations in well water radon in Virginia and Maryland: Proceedings, Virginia Water Research Symposium (with G. Mushrush and F. Simoni).
  • G. Mushrush and D. Mose, Addition of soybean derived fuel to improve the quality and stability of middle distillate fuel. Contaminated Soils, 7(7), 19-26 (2003).
  • 2003* Development of criteria to evaluate indoor radon potential in east coast homes: Contaminated Soils, v.7, edited by Paul Kosecki, Edward Calabrese and James Dragun, chapter 10, p. 147-162 (with G. Mushrush).
  • D. Mose, F. Simoni, G. Mushrush, R. Strzelecki and S. Wolkowicz, Environmental risk of radon from soils in southwest and central Poland. Energy Sources, 25(5), 467-478 (2003).
  • 2003 Indoor radon measurements from homes in southern Poland: Contaminated Soils, v.8, edited by Paul Kosecki, Edward Calabrese and James Dragun, chapter 13, p. 173-184 (with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2003* Pre-and post- mitigation measurements of indoor radon in homes with excessive radon concentrations: Contaminated Soils, v.8, edited by Paul Kosecki, Edward Calabrese and James Dragun, chapter 12, p. 163-172 (with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • 2004 Changes in water table and soil radon emanation: Environmental Forensics, v. 5, no. 3 (with P. Merolla and G. Mushrush).
  • D. Mose, G. Mushrush and M. Komalowsky, Mitigation of acid mine drainage and other contamination in the Prince William Forest National Park in Northern Virginia. Contaminated Soils, 9(14), 175-188 (2005).
  • D. Mose, G. Mushrush and F. Simoni, Reduction of radon in municipal wells in Virginia and Maryland, 9(14), 375-392 (2005).
  • 2005* Correlation test between indoor radon and surfucial gamma radiation in northern Virginia: Contaminated Soils, v. 9, edited by Paul Kosecki, Edward Calabrese and James Dragun, chapter 14, p. 361-374(with F. Simoni and G. Mushrush).
  • D. Mose, G. Mushrush, C. Chrosniak and P. DiBenedetto, Development of radon enrichment in soil gas over quartz-mica schist in Virginia. Contaminated Soils, 10(11), 193-202 (2006).
  • G. Siaway, D. Mose and G. Mushrush, Correlation test between indoor radon and surficial gamma radiation in Northern Virginia. J. Environ. Sci. and Health, A41, 613-620 (2006).
  • D. Mose and G. Mushrush, Indoor radon: Short-term and long-term influence of prolonged precipitation. Contaminated Soils, 12(19), 201-203 (2007).

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