Team
Lijie Zhang, Ph.D., Principle Investigator
Lijie is an Assistant Professor in the the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), joining in 2021. Previously, Dr. Zhang was a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, investigating geochemical and microbiological processes that control the transformation and transport of heavy metal mercury (Hg). She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Her dissertation reveals geochemical processes in the water–rock interfaces that affect the transformation of metal ions and organic compounds and alter the physicochemical properties of rocks during engineered energy-related subsurface processes.
Lai Wei
Lai is a PhD student in the Environmental Science program, joining in Spring 2023. He is working on phosphorus recovery.
-a recipient of the 2023 NJWRRI Graduate Student Grants-In-Aid
Mohammadali Vafaei
Mohammadali is a PhD student in the Chemistry program, joining in Fall 2023. He is working on membrane separation.
Wencong Xing
Wencong is a PhD student in the Environmental Science program, joining in Fall 2023. She is working on mercury transformation and remediation.
Aadi Gadekar
Aadi is a high school student in the Academy for Healthcare Sciences at the Morris County School of Technology. He is interested in natural sciences, such as geomorphology and biogeography. He is the 2022 High School Champion of the International Geography Championship.
Sabrina Gerace
Sabrina is an undergraduate student at NJIT in Environmental Science. She is working on forward osmosis process.
-a recipient of the 2023 Fall NJIT URI Seed Grant (Phase I)
Valenni Passaro
Valenni is an undergraduate student at NJIT in Chemical Engineering with a Chemistry minor. She is working on phosphorus recovery from wastewter.
-a recipient of the 2023 Fall NJIT URI Seed Grant (Phase II)
Okherra Prosper
Okherra is an undergraduate student from Rutgers University-Newark in Pre-engineering. She is working on MeHg degradation.
-a NSF BioSMART REU program participant
Previous members
Alexander Millo (NJIT Environmental Science)
2023-2024, he was working on phosphorus removal from reverse osmosis concentrate.
-Hannah Shahinian (NJIT Environmental Science), 2023 Summer, NSF BioSMART REU program participant
-Karl Gaiser (NJIT Biochemistry), 2022-2023, a recipient of the 2022 Fall NJIT URI Seed Grant (Phase I).
-Amanda Gonzales (NJIT Biochemistry), 2021-2022.