Research Group

Research Group

Current Research Group

Pan Ni, PhD – Post-Doctoral Researcher

Pieter Heyn – Graduate Student (PhD Environmental Engineering, Expected 2027)

Mengzhu Lu – Graduate Student (MS Environmental Engineering, Expected 2024)

Zizheng Luo – Graduate Student (MS Environmental Engineering, Expected 2023)

Zhongyu Shi – Graduate Student (MS Environmental Engineering, Expected 2023)

Xinkai Wu – Graduate Student (MS Environmental Engineering, Expected 2023)

Luis Bravo – Undergraduate Student (BS Environmental Engineering, Expected 2024)

Daniel Stipanov – Undergraduate Student (BS Environmental Engineering, Expected 2024)

Casey Su-Morrill – Undergraduate Student (BS Bioengineering, Expected 2023)

Past Ph.D. Students

Chelsey Shepsko – PhD, Environmental Engineering (2019), “Advancement of the Hybrid Ion Exchange Nitrogen and Phosphate (HIX-NP) Recovery from Waste Water and a New Approach to Brine-Free Nitrate Removal.” (Co-Advisor with Arup SenGupta).

Hang Dong – PhD, Environmental Engineering (2019), “Hybrid Ion Exchange Process Driven by Carbon Dioxide.” (Co-Advisor with Arup SenGupta). Post-Doctoral Researcher, Stanford University.

Yu Tian – PhD, Environmental Engineering (2016). “Improved Stability of Methane-Producing Anaerobic Biological Reactors through Novel use of Ion-Exchange Fibers.”  (Arup SenGupta, Co-Dissertation Supervisor).

Hankai Zhu – PhD, Environmental Engineering (2016).  “Impact of the Charge-Regulation Effect on Bacterial Growth and Bioavailability of Sorbed Growth Substrates.”

Hai (Thomas) Lin – PhD, Geotechnical Engineering (2016).  “Microbial Modification of Soil for Ground Improvement.” (Co-Dissertation Supervisor with Muhannad Suleiman). Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at Louisiana State University.

Lynal Albert – PhD, Environmental Engineering (2015).  “Effects of surface properties on the charge regulated bioenergetic response of attached bacteria: Exploration within the framework of the chemiosmotic theory.”  Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at Tarleton State University (Texas A&M System).

Shweta Tripathi – PhD, Environmental Engineering (2008) “Effects of anionic and nonionic surfactant mixtures on bacterial tranport through unsaturated porous media.”  Director of Water Business Strategy,  Enzen Global Solutions, Bangalore, India.

Yongsuk Hong – PhD, Environmental Engineering (2008) “Effects of surfaces on bacterial metabolic activity: Examination of a physiochemical/bioenergetic mechanism.”  Professor of Environmental Engineering at Korea University.

Past M.S. Students

Wenxin Zhang – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2020)

Devon Dowd – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2017)

Connor Zingale – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2017)

Qiqi Chen – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2014)

Patrick McGuire – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2014)

Ho He – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2013). “Surface properties of nanoparticles”

Chong Dai – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2013). “Characterization of cell surface pH utilizing a lipophilic pH-sensitive dye”. PhD Environmental Engineering, University of Houston.

Huakan Lu – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2013). “Benchmarking antimicrobial properties of surface-treated activated carbon” (focused on carbon preparation and characterization).

Kristen Falotico – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2013). “Benchmarking antimicrobial properties of surface-treated activated carbon” (focused on biological activity).

Wujun Xia – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2013). “Quantifying sorptive properties of surface-treated granular activated carbons.”

Bingqing Cai – M.S. Environmental Engineering (2013). “Effects of phage on bacterial growth kinetics.”

Jin-Cheng Lin – M.S., Environmental Engineering, Ph.D. Candidate. “Stabilization of the anaerobic digestion process.”

JiaJie Ma – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2012) “Investigation of bacterial transport through saturated porous media using a 10 meter meso-scale flow system.”

Ivy Otieno – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2012) “Development of a bench-scale 2D flow system for investigating bacterial transport in unsaturated porous media.”

Kai Ding – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2012) “Initial investigation of the effects of surfaces on bacterial Monod coefficients.” PhD Environmental Health Engineering, Villanova University.

Stephen Abegunde – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2011) “Effects of surfaces on cellular yield.”

Nate Medford – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2010) “Development of an anaerobic digestor test apparatus.”

Crystal Degree – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2009) “Treatment of Sanitary Waste for Manned Mission to Mars: Feasibility, Concerns and Implementation.”

Surapol Padungthon – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2009) Co-Advisor with Dr. James Hsu, Dept. of Chemical Engineering. PhD Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University.

Thomas Waters – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2008) “Examination of the collision efficiency distribution of different bacterial species.”

Jacquelyn Lanzon – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2007) “Simultaneous sorption of surfactant and phenanthrene on the bacterial cell surface and relationship to hemi-micelle formation.”

Minna Kim – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2007) “Effects of EDTA on Staphylococcus epidermidis surface properties.”

Alon Abramson – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2006) “Collision efficiency distribution of a Sphingomonas sp. flowing through sand columns and implications for field-scale transport.”

Khaula S. Al Nuaimi – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2004) “Characterization of nonionic surfactant sorption onto the cell surface of a Sphingomonas sp.”

Lovleen Gupta – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2004) “Residual saturation of coal tar in porous media.” Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Delhi Technological University, India

Angelina Twumasi-Boakye – M.S., Environmental Engineering (2004) “Surfactant-enhanced remediation of coal tar contaminated soils: Solubility and biodegradation effects.”

Past Post-Doctoral Researchers and Visiting Researchers

  • Robert Kachmar – Visiting Research Scientist
  • Dr. Tae-Hyung Kim – Post-doctoral researcher
  • Theodore Schaffer – Visiting Research Scientist

Past Undergraduate Students

  • Martien Schoonen – Undergraduate Student (BS Bioengineering, Expected 2023)
  • Menglin Jiang – BS Environmental Engineering (2022). Pursuing PhD in Environmental Engineering at University of Notre Dame.
  • Haley Robb – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2022). Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholar.
  • Rachel Condon – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2022)
  • Julie Goldberg – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2021)
  • Julia Pietruszka – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2020)
  • Ellen Davis – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2018). Master of Sustainability and MBA, Chatham University.
  • Kalin Ogert – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2017)
  • Casey Chang – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2017). Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholar. PhD Environmental Engineering, Cornell University.
  • Devon Dowd – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2016, *17). Presidential Scholar. MS Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University.
  • Connor Zingale – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2016, *17). MS Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University.
  • Lee Estrella – B.S. Environmental Engineering (2017)
  • Spencer Nush – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2017).
  • Zoe Grossman – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2015)
  • Andrew Leavitt – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2015)
  • Chelsey Shepsko – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2014) MS and PhD Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University.
  • Scott Caporizzo – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2013)
  • Lauren Zell – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2012)
  • Sam Miller – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2012)
  • Rachel Nordberg – B.S., Bioengineering (2012). MEng Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University; PhD Biomedical Engineering UNC Chapel Hill.
  • Fatima O’Connor – B.S., Civil Engineering (2012). 2011 NSF Summer REU Project.
  • Andrew Faris – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2012)
  • Zachary Amos – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2011). 2009 NSF Summer REU Project.
  • Leah Kramkowski – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2011)
  • Hannah Mishriki – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2011)
  • Megan Pendleton – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2010)
  • Steve Walsh – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2010). 2009 NSF Summer REU Project.
  • Jackie Hancock – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2009)
  • Elizabeth Johnston – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2009)
  • Mike Rubin – Undergraduate Student (7-year medical program)
  • Christoper Hohman – Undergraduate Student (Bioengineering)
  • Michael Hennessy – B.S., Bioengineering (2008)*
  • Thomas Waters – B.S., Civil Engineering (2007). MS Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University
  • Mike Angus – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2007)
  • Jacquelyn Lanzon – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2006). 2005 NSF Summer REU Project.  MS Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University.
  • Laurie Brenner – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2006). 2006 NSF Summer REU Project.
  • Eric Kubilus – B.S., Environmental Engineering (2006)
  • Jordan Ratcliff – B.S., Bioengineering (2006)
  • Matthew DiMaggio – B.S., Civil Engineering (2006). Juris Doctorate, Rutgers Law School.
  • Gillian Semmer – B.S., Civil Engineering (2006)
  • Minna Kim – B.S., Civil Engineering (2005). 2004 NSF Summer REU Project.  MS Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University.
  • Alon Abramson – B.S., Civil Engineering (2005.  MS Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University.
  • Meredith Burns – B.S., Civil Engineering (2005). 2003 NSF Summer REU Project.