I am always looking skilled scientists and engineers passionate about engineering sustainability. Prospective researchers should be interested in at least one of the following areas: electrochemistry, inorganic/organometallic chemistry, analytical chemistry, chemical separations, pollutant fate and transport, chemical process modeling, exposure modeling.
Ideal candidates are more interested in developing a mechanistic understanding than a descriptive understanding. For instance, candidates would not be tasked with synthesizing and characterizing a new material. They would instead be tasked with examining what features of the material are important for determining its properties.
Qualities I look for in a good candidate:
Proactive communication of both successes and struggles
Strong quantitative reasoning (analytical and numerical solutions; statistical testing)
Mindful of deadlines, time constraints, and priorities
Recognition of their strengths and weaknesses; what they know and do not know
High expectation of themselves as people and as scholars
Preference for depth over breadth
Comfort with uncertainty and the unknown
Follow the directions below. Contact Dr. Boualavong at: jboualav@buffalo.edu
1 PhD student in the area of: Electrochemically mediated CO2 separations. Position filled
Topics include: Relationships between carbon capture and public health; Methods of manipulating transport at the air-water interface; Impacts of source gas composition.
Funding: This project is funded by New York State. While it is not nationality-restricted, its relationship to the energy sector may cause visa issues for applicants from specific countries.
Interested applicants should follow the instructions below. This position requires substantial knowledge of chemistry + electricity and magnetism; applicants who have not taken at least 1 semester of organic chemistry or 1 semester of physical chemistry (quantum or thermodynamics) will be at a severe disadvantage, and applicants who have not taken E&M and/or linear circuits will likely be automatically rejected.
Students who believe their background is sufficient in other areas to make up for this knowledge gap (e.g., from prior work or research experiences) should address in their 1-page statement (a) what they know and (b) how they plan to learn any missing material within their first semester on top of core first semester requirements, recognizing that they would not be able to these (1st and 2nd year undergraduate) chemistry/physics classes at UB.
2 Undergraduate students in the area of: CO2-dependent reactions -- Filled for Spring-Summer 2025! Self-funded students and/or those interested in research credit are still welcome to reach out.
Topics: (1) Solubility and salting-out of metal-CO2 capture sorbent complexes. (2) Acidity of CO2 capture sorbents after binding to CO2.
Funding: 2 paid positions available for spring and summer 2025. Summer housing assistance available for non-local students. UB students only, but any major accepted.
Students should have experience working in a lab with hazardous chemicals (strong acids and bases). No prior research experience expected.
Email Dr. Boualavong with a brief statement of interest and tailored (1-page) resume. You do not need to be majoring in civil or environmental engineering or be a UB student - you just need to show a motivation to learn and a way to get here. There are some remote opportunities for students with existing experience in technical computing and programming (R, python, MatLab, etc.).
Apply to the Environmental & Water Resources Engineering PhD program at University at Buffalo and indicate me as a potential advisor. Feel free to email me with a CV, unofficial transcripts (bachelors and masters if relevant), and brief statement (<1 page) summarizing research experiences, interests, and motivations and addressing any key qualifications from current Openings. Failure to include all components may mean you do not get a response.
In general, I look for wet lab experience and quantitative skill, which can be satisfied by any number of STEM majors. Even in cases when I have purely/majority computation projects, it helps to have had some laboratory experience to contextualize what the calculations mean. Similarly, even in purely wet-lab projects, computing skills are necessary to be able to interpret the data rigorously.
Specific projects may have more specific requirements. See above for any special requirements for existing openings. You do not need a Masters to be admitted to the PhD program; I evaluate applicants based on where they should be at their current career stage.
Reach out to Dr. Boualavong to discuss options. Admission to any of the MS programs run by UB's Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering are typically not tied to finding an advisor. Those pursuing a degree other than MS Civil engineering, MS Environmental engineering, or MS Engineering sustainability should check with their Director of Graduate Studies about getting research credits outside of their home department if interested in doing work with me.
Contact Dr. Boualavong by email with a CV, 1 page summary of research experience + interests, and contact information for 1-3 references.
**As of Summer 2025, I do not have funding to support a postdoctoral scholar. Please only reach out if you are interested in pursuing externally funded programs.**
Potential external postdoctoral funding includes:
Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (limited to applicants based in the EU)
China Scholarship Council (limited to applicants based in China)
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (limited to Canadian citizens or permanent residents)
JSPS Overseas Research Fellowship (limited to applications based in Japan)
Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral fellowship (limited to Indian citizens)