Explore the Nano World
Wen's Research Group
Wen Zhang, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE
Principal Investigator
Professor
Phone: (973) 596-5520
Fax: (973) 596-5790
Email: wen.zhang@njit.edu
Office Location: Colton Hall 211
Find us on the map:
Two new members of Ph.D. students to join Zhang's group this fall in 2023
Jiahe Zhang, who graduated from University College London with M.S. and Beijing Jiaotong University with B.S. During his undergraduate study, he focused on employing Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to unravel the intricate mechanisms of chemical reactions, offering predictive insights into products and pollutant degradation within advanced oxidation processes. This work synergized with studying interfacial reaction kinetics for ozone-resistant drug degradation. In electrochemistry, his attention turned to recovering nitrogen and phosphorus via electrochemical cells for efficient wastewater utilization. During his master's, he adeptly utilized finite element methods to model the hydrodynamics and salinity tracing of the River Arun, evaluating
See details on http://www.wenresearch.com/ph.d.-students.html
vulnerability to environmental changes in the adjacent wetlands. His analysis, recognized by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, UK, holds pivotal importance for conserving the Arundel wetlands, incorporating factors like sea level rise, seasonal river flow fluctuations, and extreme weather effects on river salinity. During his Ph.D. program, his research focus will extend to exploring the utilization of computational chemistry in environmental contexts, specifically delving into the behavior of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) within the environment. Additionally, he will undertake the modeling and examination of nanobubble behavior, shedding light on their generation process and interactions with surrounding fluids or contaminants
The project's core objective was to enhance the value of this readily available waste material by harnessing its exceptional metal sorption capacity. During her Ph.D. program, she will dedicate herself to leveraging an established microalgal culture platform to pioneer the engineering of microalgal polyculture. This pioneering effort revolves around a photosynthesis-driven process aimed at capturing and sequestering CO2 emissions from power plant flue gases. The envisioned outcome involves converting CO2 into algae biomass and forming calcium carbonate precipitates. This groundbreaking approach holds significant promise in advancing sustainable solutions for CO2 reduction and environmental enhancement.
Jingru Wei, who graduated from University of Florida with M.S. and Yanbian University with B.S. In her master's program, she focused on addressing the persistent challenge of in-situ remediation for metal-contaminated sediments within environmental restoration. The need for cost-effective and efficient remedial strategies that safeguard both treated systems and human health cannot be overstated. Our investigation centered on evaluating the viability of utilizing drinking water treatment residuals (DWTR) – a heterogeneous and abundant waste sorbent – as a promising capping material for remediating metal-contaminated sediments.