Laura Banasiak
Laura is a Senior Scientist in the Groundwater team.
Qualifications
Laura earned her PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Edinburgh (UK) and ME in Civil Engineering – Research from the University of Wollongong (Australia).
About
Laura is a Senior Scientist based at ESR’s Christchurch Science Centre. Laura has held several postdoctoral academic positions including Vice Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Geotechnical Engineering, University of Wollongong (Australia), Research Assistant, University of Tokyo (Japan), and Lecturer in Chemical and Process Engineering and Environmental Engineering, University of Canterbury. In mid-2017, Laura joined ESR’s Groundwater Research group, where she has been involved in several projects. These include engineering mitigation options for reducing nutrient levels in groundwater, and predicting groundwater redox status at a national scale. Her expertise is in the use of engineering mitigation strategies for groundwater contamination (e.g. permeable reactive barriers) and membrane technology for the treatment of drinking water and groundwater. This expertise was recognised by her being appointed to the Stockton Mine Assessment Expert Reference Group and co-authoring a technical report for Treasury. Laura now leads the National Survey of Pesticides, Emerging Organic Contaminants (EOCs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater. In addition, she is collaborating with researchers from the University of Canterbury on the environmental implications of recycling end-of-life tyres in seismic resilient foundations. Some recent publications include: Forcellini, D., Chiaro, G., Palermo, A., Banasiak, L. and Tsang, H-H. 2024. Energy dissipation efficiency of geotechnical seismic isolation with gravel-rubber mixtures: Insights from FE non-linear numerical analysis. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1080/13632469.2024.2312915. Close, M. and Banasiak, L. 2023. National survey of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater 2022. Report prepared for Environmental Protection Authority & Regional & Unitary Authorities, Client report # CSC23006. https://www.esr.cri.nz/digital-library/national-survey-of-per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-in-groundwater-2022/. Close, M. and Banasiak, L. 2023. National survey of pesticides in groundwater 2022. Report prepared for Regional & Unitary Authorities, Client report # CSC23010. https://www.knowledgeauckland.org.nz/media/m1ncztyh/national-survey-pesticides-in-groundwater-2022-esr-june-2023.pdf. Chiaro, G., Palermo, A., Banasiak, L., Tasalloti, A., Granello, G. and Hernandez, E. 2023. Seismic response of low-rise buildings with eco-rubber geotechnical seismic isolation (ERGSI) foundation system: numerical investigation. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 21: 3797-3821. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-022-01584-9. Pang, L., Weaver, L., Karki, N., McGill, E., Lin, S., Webber, J., Banasiak, L. and Close, M. 2023. Comparative reductions of norovirus, echovirus, adenovirus, Campylobacter jejuni and process indicator organisms during water filtration in alluvial sand. Sci. Total Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164178. Banasiak, L., Weaver, L., Humphries, B.L., Dann, R, Blaurock, M., Gosses, M., Pang, L. and Close, M. 2023. Microbial and solute transport through intact vadose zone cores of heterogeneous alluvial gravel under variably saturated conditions. Vadose Zone Journal, 22(3), https://doi.org/10.1002/vzj2.20250.