Director
Yongsheng Chen, Ph.D.
2009 – Present
Director and Principal Investigator at the N.E.W. Center
Bonnie W. and Charles W. Moorman IV Prof. of Civil & Env. Eng.
Research interests: Environmental applications of nanotechnology, including synthesizing novel nano-materials for removal of contaminants from different media and monitoring environmental pollutants; urban sustainability, including water/energy use efficiency and sustainable biofuels, focusing on algae related biofuel downstream issues; urban controlled-environment agriculture and hydroponics.
Research Scientists and Engineers
To see past researchers and students, click here.
Elif Demirel (Senior Research Scientist)
Ph.D., Anadolu University, Turkey, 2015
M.S., Anadolu University, Turkey, 2007
B.S., Anadolu University, Turkey, 2004
Email: edemirel7@gatech.edu
Research: Development of polymer based nanocomposite membranes, removal of heavy metals and dyes from water and wastewater, development of nanofiltration membranes for the recovery of nutritions from wastewater
Yifei Wang (Research Engineer)
Ph.D., University of Houston, Houston, 2020
B.S., Sichuan Normal University, China, 2014
Email: ywang4061@acohen47
Research: analysis and treatment of emerging contaminants, esp. per- and polyfluorokyl substance (PFAS)
Qingquan Ma (Visiting Research Scientist)
Ph.D., New Jersey Institute of Technology, 2022
M.S., Beihang University, China, 2019
B.S., Beihang University, China, 2016
Email: qma83@gatech.edu
Research: Advanced Oxidation Process,Density Function Theory, Membrane Filtration.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Nohyeong Jeong (Postdoctoral researcher)
Ph.D., Colorado State University, 2023
M.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2018
B.S., Chungbuk National University, South Korea, 2016
Email: njeong6@gatech.edu
Research: Applying artificial intelligence to understand mechanisms of membrane filtration
Zefang Chen (Postdoctoral researcher)
Email: zefangchen1226@gatech.edu
Research:
Graduate Student Researchers
Lan Gan (PhD Candidate)
M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016
B.S., Nankai University, China, 2014
Email: lgan937@gatech.edu
Research: Adsorptive membrane for water treatment
Andrew Sharkey (PhD Candidate)
B.S.B.A, University of Florida, 2010
Email: asharkey6@gatech.edu
Research: Modeling nutrient uptake and accumulation in hydroponic agriculture
Chengchao Xiao (PhD Candidate)
M.S., University of Florida, 2016
B.S., China Agricultural University, China, 2014
Email: xiaoch0218@gatech.edu
Research: Applying polymer-inclusion membrane for cobalt/nickel ions separation in LIBs recycling process
Abigail Cohen (PhD Candidate)
M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology
B.S., Columbia University
Email: acohen47@gatech.edu
Research: Circular food and water economy with a focus in nutrient cycling, technologies, and risks
Elliot Reid (PhD Candidate)
M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2017
Email: emsreid@gatech.edu
Research: PFAS adsorption and anaerobic biotechnologies for agricultural water reclamation
Srinivas Jalla (PhD Student)
B.S., University of New Orleans, 1994
B.E., Osmania University, 1990
Research: Membrane fouling and the accumulation of substances on the membrane surface
Yushan Chen (PhD Student)
M.S., Cornell University, 2022
B.S., Shanxi University, China, 2019
Email: ychen3338@gatech.edu
Research: Apply machine learning to find eco-friendly ionic liquids for carbon capture
Raghav Dangayach (PhD Student)
B. Tech., Vellore Institute of Technology, India, 2020
Email: raghavdangayach9@gatech.edu
Research: Aqueous phase separation of polyelectrolyte complexes for sustainable membrane production
Ahmed Ibrahim Yunus (PhD Student)
M.S. Georgia Southern University, 2022
B.S. Benedict College, 2020
Email: ayunus07@gatech.edu
Research: Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Co-Digestion of Pulp and Processing Wastewater and Solid Wastes
Zhaoyang Xiong (PhD Student)
M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2019
B.S., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, 2014
Email: zhaoyang.xiong@gatech.edu
Research: Microalgae coagulation and sedimentation, smart water/digital water
Dylan Lambeth (PhD Student)
Email: dlambeth7@gatech.edu
Research: Machine learning to predict bioaccumulation of PFAS compounds in hydroponic lettuce
Harsh Muriki (MS Student)
B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024
Email: vmuriki3@gatech.edu
Research: Integrating robotics and machine learning for advanced agricultural solutions
Current Undergraduate Researchers
Our lab frequently hires undergraduates to assist with research. Of these positions, 90% are for technical elective course credit. Please reach out to our group if you are interested and looking for research credit.
*indicates leadership position (e.g., MS Research Assistant, Undergraduate Research Supervisor, Research Author)
| *Asher Altman: | Spr ’22 – Spr ’24 | Caitlyn Haponik: | Fall ’23 – Spr ’24 |
| Ashley Track: | Spr ’24 | *Benjamin Missaoui (MS): | Spr ’24 |
| *Mark Lannaman (MS): | Sum ’23 – Spr ’24 |