Spotlight on Evie Murgia: Solving the Environmental Puzzle

Meet Evie Murgia

Say hello to Evie Murgia, a Hydrogeologist and multidisciplinary environmental professional on ASTI Environmental’s West Michigan team in Grand Rapids. With more than 10 years of experience, Evie has supported a wide range of industrial, municipal, and redevelopment projects. Her work spans water resources, environmental investigation, regulatory compliance, and project coordination.

Outside of project work, Evie serves on the City of Kalamazoo Natural Features Protection Review board and is a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and Michigan Association of Environmental Professionals. She also holds certifications in industrial stormwater management, wastewater treatment plant operation, industrial, commercial air stripping, and human subjects research. To learn more about Evie, we caught up with her to discuss the path that led her to hydrogeology and what she enjoys most about her work today.

From Astronomy to Hydrogeology

Evie’s interest in science started early. With a parent working in aerospace, she initially developed an interest in astronomy. In high school, she signed up for an astronomy and geology elective and discovered an even stronger interest in geology.

That interest, combined with her love of the outdoors, led her to pursue geology and environmental science academically and professionally. Through research opportunities in school, she gravitated toward hydrogeology and water resources while continuing to develop a broader environmental skill set.

Over time, her experience expanded to include hydrogeologic evaluation and modeling, environmental site assessment, stormwater management, GIS and data analysis, planning, and resilience work. That versatility has allowed her to approach environmental challenges from multiple perspectives rather than through the lens of a single discipline.

Solving the Environmental Puzzle

For Evie, one of the most rewarding parts of environmental work is solving a complicated puzzle. She enjoys taking a large amount of information, determining how the pieces fit together, identifying what may be missing, and applying technical knowledge and professional judgement to develop a solution.

That approach is valuable because environmental challenges rarely fit into one category. Evie enjoys projects that bring together several areas of expertise to understand the bigger picture.

Her work has given her opportunities to manage increasingly complex projects involving multiple disciplines, phases, stakeholders, and moving pieces. Whether developing a technical approach, coordinating people and information, or communicating the results, she enjoys bringing structure and clarity to that complexity.

Connecting the Pieces

Evie’s background as a research scientist, educator, and outreach professional has shaped how she approaches her work. Her experience communicating scientific concepts to different audiences helps her turn complex technical information into clear, practical guidance.

Ultimately, her goal is to provide clients with information they can understand, trust, and use to make informed decisions while meeting regulatory requirements. Whether evaluating water resources, supporting environmental investigations, or helping communities plan for long-term hazard mitigation and resilience, Evie brings technical expertise, communication, and a broad environmental perspective to help clients navigate challenges.