Inspiring Future Environmental Leaders: Advice from Matrix New World’s Team
On this Phoenix Business RadioX episode, host Karen Nowicki welcomes members of Matrix New World Engineering, including Laurie LaPat-Polasko, her daughter Alexandra Polasko, and Bridget Hoagland. Laurie, Matrix’s VP of remediation, shares her journey from marine biology to environmental engineering with career highlights like her work with Jacques Cousteau and on the Exxon Valdez oil spill, while Alexandra reflects on how her mother’s passion inspired her path in environmental science. Bridget, a project engineer, discusses her career shift from veterinary science to engineering and her commitment to environmental sustainability and water quality.
The conversation delves into Matrix’s innovative approaches, including microbial techniques for contaminant degradation and university partnerships for tackling emerging issues like PFAS and PCBs. Laurie also discusses Matrix’s expansion within the True Environmental platform, enhancing expertise in areas like air quality, while the team underscores the importance of protecting water resources for future generations. Laurie closes with advice for aspiring scientists and engineers to pursue hands-on learning, as Karen praises Matrix’s dedication to addressing environmental challenges.
Discover how Matrix is tackling today’s biggest environmental challenges—tune in now!
Matrix New World Engineering is a company of engineering and science experts who focus on some of the nation’s most pressing long-term challenges, including climate change, resiliency, ecological restoration, contamination studies, water supply, disaster response, and urban revitalization. Matrix believes solving environmental challenges through careful planning and engineering is an indispensable measure of success.
Matrix has offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Arizona, Louisiana, and Chicago, coupled with project experience throughout the United States and the Caribbean.
Known worldwide for her work developing innovative solutions to address water and soil contamination issues, Dr. LaPat-Polasko has a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland, a M.S. and Engineers Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Biology from Chatham University.
She has studied microbial pathogens around the globe, combining her knowledge of biology, environmental engineering, and microbiology to develop and design innovative “bioremediation” approaches to clean up contaminated sites, creating a green, cost-effective method to degrade diverse contaminants, such as chlorinated solvents, explosives, fuel compounds, and emerging contaminants.
Dr. LaPat-Polasko used qPCR to determine the source of a Naegleria fowleri impact in a drinking water source in the Phoenix, AZ area. Her many years of experience as a technical consultant, project manager, and chief science officer for efforts involving groundwater and soil remediation and wastewater treatment combined with her knowledge of microbiology and civil engineering, result in cost-effective remediation solutions for surface water, groundwater, soil, and sediments impacted by organic and inorganic compounds.
Dr. LaPat-Polasko has been the recipient of several prominent honors. In 2018, she received the GOLD International Stevie Award for Women in Business, Woman of the Year – Technology, and was selected as Outstanding Business Woman of the Year – 2018 by the Phoenix Business Journal for her community leadership, professional accomplishments, and personal achievements and in 2020 she received the Prism Award from the Society of Women, Engineers for Outstanding Leadership in STEM. In 2024, Dr. LaPat-Polasko was selected as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Arizona by Women We Admire.
Alexandra Polasko, Post Doctoral Researcher / Fellow
Bridget Hoagland, Project Engineer
