Current Research Topic and Achievements

Chunjie’s research interests cover diverse environmental science and engineering aspects related to legacy and emerging organic contaminants. His postdoctoral research focuses on monitoring the fate and transport of organic contaminants in the environment, especially per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS). During his Ph.D. studies at SIUC, he focused on developing an environmentally friendly, cost-effective approach—the UVC/zero-valent iron (Fe0) nanoparticles system—to remediate PFAS from wastewater effluents for water reuse. A pilot test using this system for PFAS removal was run at the local wastewater treatment plant successfully. During his research period, he has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers in journals like Environmental Science and Technology (ES&T), ES&T letter. And he also received awards, like Dissertation Research Assistantship Award from SIUC, Academic Excellence Award from Central States Water Environment Association.

Career Goal in 5-10 Years

Chunjie aims to become an Engineer/Scientist capable of translating laboratory techniques into practical applications, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable world. Within 5-10 years, he plans to establish his own well-supported research team dedicated to addressing major environmental challenges, such as the water crisis and issues related to environmental contaminants. His primary goal is to initially detect unidentified contaminants utilizing mass spectrometry in conjunction with other techniques. Subsequently, he aims to study the fate and transport of these contaminants, culminating in their remediation from the environment through advanced treatment methods such as membranes technology and biotechnology.

Fun Fact

When feeling stressed, he finds that running/hiking are good ways to relieve himself.