Ki Young Cha

Ki Young Cha is a research environmental engineer for RTI, where he utilizes numerical modeling approaches to enhance the understanding of subsurface environments. Currently, Dr. Cha is supporting multiple projects for the federal government (e.g. CDC, EPA), including addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination issues in various areas across the U.S. He also provides technical support for site specific compliance-level reviews on Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) sites. He works to develop an environmental model that reconstructs the historical distribution of contaminants, enabling the analysis of public exposure to PFAS. 

Prior to joining RTI in 2023, Dr. Cha worked for state and federal agencies and the private sector, conducting in-depth research, analysis, and evaluation of subsurface and groundwater environmental conditions. His work has helped enhance the understanding in various areas, including remediation system designs, uncertainties associated with contaminant mass flux/discharge measurement methods, the characteristic of sites experiencing back-diffusion and the groundwater resource management. 

In addition to his work, Dr. Cha holds a professional membership with the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).