Dr. Ziemkiewicz, a native of Pittsburgh has a PhD from the University of British Columbia and an MS and BS from Utah State University. He worked for ten years with the Alberta Department of Energy before coming to West Virginia University to serve as director of its Water Research Institute. The Institute develops and carries out environmental research projects in the region and nationally. Research focus areas include management and treatment of waste streams from coal mining and oil and gas development. Major programs include coal mine reclamation, water treatment and watershed restoration and brownfields development.

The Water Research Institute currently has a staff of 15 and manages 22 research projects worth $5.6MM.