Research Team

Dr. Arjun K. Venkatesan - Principal Investigator

I am an environmental chemist and engineer, conducting research in developing new interventions and technologies that will improve our water quality. I am currently an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology. I received my Ph.D. from Arizona State University (2013) and my Masters of Science from University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2009), both in environmental engineering.

Dr. Sudheera Yaparatne - Post-Doc

I am an environmental chemist and currently a postdoctoral research associate at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. My research focuses on advancing innovative and sustainable methods for water and wastewater treatment. My research specialization includes nanobubble applications in environmental contexts, nano photocatalysts, analytical chemistry, and material characterization. I received my Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Maine (2021).

Bishnu Pandey - Ph.D. Student

As a dedicated PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at NJIT, I focus on advancing environmental sustainability through my research on the removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from various environmental media. My work contributes to addressing critical challenges associated with PFAS contamination in soil, drinking water, and wastewater by employing innovative treatment techniques. I received my master’s from the University of Idaho in Water Resources Engineering and Science (2021). I am passionate about the environment and am committed to exploring and implementing effective solutions to address emerging environmental challenges.

Farhaneh Maghsoudi - Ph.D. Student

I am a Ph.D. student in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, specializing in water and wastewater treatment. My research is centered on improving water quality by removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via the adsorption process utilizing Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). I hold a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Tehran and a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology.

Santhoshi Chitthaluri - Ph.D. Student

I am currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at NJIT, with a research focus on the quantification of contamination and the remediation of PFAS from various environmental media, including water, wastewater, and soil matrices. I have had work and research experiences at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad. I hold a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Warangal and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur.

Ligaya Manalastas - Undergraduate Researcher

My skills in chemistry and passion for environmental stewardship have led me to pursue a B.S. in Environmental Science at NJIT. In the ECRL, I assist graduate researchers in measuring the successful deterioration and removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in organic solvents and water. My current coursework builds upon my background in environmental remediation, allowing me to exercise laboratory and field research methods. Additionally, I am an appointed Ernest F. Hollings Scholar for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and will begin my research internship in the summer of 2025.

Hillary King - Undergraduate Researcher

I am an undergraduate Biology student at NJIT currently enrolled in NJIT's 7-year BS/DMD program with Rutgers. As a part of the ECRL, I assist with research focused on the deterioration and removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In addition to my academic and research pursuits, I am a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), which reflects my broader commitment to health and public service.

Former Researchers

Graduate Students

Dr. Kaushik Londhe (PhD Advisee) - Engineer at Geosyntec Consultants

Dr. Patricia Clyde - (PhD Co-Advisee) - Environmental chemist at Gradient

Dr. Yuyin Tang - (PhD Co-Advisee) - Postdoc at NYS Center for Clean Water Technology

Dr. Duning Li - (PhD Co-Advisee) - Module Development Engineer, Intel

Justice Woke - (MS Advisee) - Research technician at PFAS Solutions

Postdocs/Technicians

Dr. Cheng-Shiuan Lee (Post-doc) - Assistant Research Fellow, Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica

Dr. Xiayan Ye (Post-doc) - Analytical Chemist

Dr. Amith Maroli (Post doc) - Senior Scientist, Mount Sinai

Dr. Yi Zhang (Post-doc) - Research Scientist, Stony Brook University

Barbara Morrow (Technician) - M.D. student at West Virginia University

Undergraduate Researchers

Sophie Calish - B.S. at NJIT

Amanda Thomas - Ph.D. student at Northeastern University

Guangmei Liu - Ph.D. student in Biology at Boston University

Jie Tang

Jonathan Lubiantoro - Ph.D. Stony Brook University

Kellianne Ticcony

High School Interns

Isabella Sha (Simons Summer Research Intern)

Abhinav Avvaru (Simons Summer Research Intern)

Tanakamon Yimsiri (Simons Summer Research Intern)

Google Sites

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