Derek Henderson

About

Derek Henderson joined Florida Polytechnic University’s Department of Environmental Engineering in 2021. His work includes the development of experimental and analytical capabilities and research in the areas of phosphogypsum beneficial reuse and critical mineral recovery.

He completed his dissertation at the University of Virginia in 2015 with his research in highway runoff characterization and green infrastructure long-term performance with a focus on remote monitoring and analytical quantification.  This work continued as a post-doc researcher at the University of Virginia until 2018.

Henderson remained at the University of Virginia providing analytical research management as the environmental lab manager until 2021.

His background features work in the environmental engineering industry. Henderson was a consultant for Conestoga-Rovers and Associates at their Chicago office from 2008 to 2009.

Awards and Honors

• University of Virginia Graduate Research Symposium, Honorable Mention, 2015

• Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering National Honors Society, Sergeant-At-Arms, 2006

Community Involvement

• Judge, University of Virginia Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, 2019-2021

Education

• D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, 2015
• S. in Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 2007
• S. in Civil Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 2006

Expertise

• Highway Stormwater Runoff
• Green Infrastructure Performance
• Water Quality
• Phosphate and Fertilizer Production Byproducts
• Critical Mineral Recovery

Professional Activities

• Faculty Representative Council Chair and Board of Trustees Member, Florida Polytechnic University, 2026
• ACFE Member, AI Working Group, Government Relations and Communications Working Group, SUS Research Working Group, 2026
• Graduate Studies Committee Member, 2025 – 2026
• ASCE Associate Member
• University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science Building Zone Committee Chair, 2020-2021

Select Publications

• Henderson, D., Hayes, G., Burgis, C. and Smith, J.A. (2021). “Low Impact Development Technologies for Highway Stormwater Runoff.” In Encyclopedia of Water, P. Maurice (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119300762.wsts0009
• Henderson, D.A., Smith, J.A., and Fitch, G.M., (2016) “Impact of Vegetation Management on Vegetated Roadsides and Their Performance as a Low-Impact-Development Practice for Linear Transportation Infrastructure.” Transportation Research Record, DOI: 10.3141/2588-19.
• Charles R. Burgis, Derek A. Henderson, Gail M. Hayes, Wuhuan Zhang, James A. Smith (2026) “Performance monitoring of roadside green infrastructure: The different perspectives of alternate water quality metrics” Journal of Environmental Management Volume 401, 1 March 2026, 128852 ISSN 0301-4797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128852. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479726003129)
• Zhang W, Burgis CR, Hayes GM, Henderson DA, Smith JA. (2024) “Evaluation of Maintenance Efficiency for Multiple Green Infrastructure Designs Based on Water Quality Performance and Economic Costs” Ecological Engineering, 206:107326. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107326
• Hayes, G. M., Burgis, C., Zhang,W., Henderson, D.A., Smith, J.A. (2023) “Evaluation of the Export of Fecal Contamination from Roadside Green Infrastructure” Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. Vol 9, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.0001002
• Zhang W, Burgis CR, Hayes GM, Henderson DA, Smith JA. (2022) “Mitigation of Deicing Salt Loading to Water Resources by Transpiration from Green Infrastructure Vegetation.” Land. 2022; 11(6):907. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060907
• Hayes, G. M., Burgis, C., Zhang,W., Henderson, D.A., Smith, J.A. (2021) “Runoff reduction by four green stormwater infrastructure systems in a shared environment.” Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. Vol 7, Issue 2. doi:10.1061/JSWBAY.0000932
• Burgis, C.R, Hayes, G.M., Zhang, W., Henderson, D.A., Smith, J.A., (2020) “Tracking Denitrification in Green Stormwater Infrastructure with Dual Nitrate Stable Isotopes” Science of the Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141281
• Burgis, C.R., Hayes, G., Henderson, D.A., Zhang, W., Smith, J.A. (2020) “Green Stormwater Infrastructure Buffers Surface Waters from Road Salt Loading.” Science of the Total Environment. 729. 138736, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138736