Current Research Topic and Achievements

Ruoyu is interested in all types of membrane-based separation processes with applications in water desalination, brine management, wastewater purification, and nutrient and resource recovery. His research focuses on the fundamental understanding of transport mechanisms in membrane processes with different driving forces, from pressure, concentration, temperature, to electrical potential. He also devotes to the innovation of new membrane processes for more sustainable and efficient separations.

During his Ph.D., he received, CAPEES-Elsevier Outstanding Graduate Award, Graduate Student Award in ACS Environmental Chemistry Division, and Vanderbilt University Carl E. Adams Graduate Award. He has published more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles on Nature Water, Nature Comm., Science Advances, PNAS, ES&T, and JMS, etc.

Career Goal in 5-10 Years

Over the next 5-10 years, my goal is deeply rooted in the academic sphere, fueled by a profound commitment to advancing membrane separation research in environmental engineering. As I will start job hunt next year, my aim is to get a tenure-tracked position that facilitates the exploration of not only cutting-edge membrane technology and processes but also the fundamental understanding of transport phenomena. I envision my research contributing significantly to the precise separation of solutes, a crucial aspect for resource and nutrient recovery. Beyond the laboratory, my aspiration is to integrate these findings into educational initiatives, fostering a community of learners passionate about sustainable environmental practices.

Fun Fact

Ruoyu is a big fan of NBA. He has a goal to watch games of all NBA teams in person and the current progress is 13/30.