High School Intern Neel Ahuja Achieved Recognition and Awards for PFAS Research

Neel Ahuja, our high school intern from Millburn High School (Millburn, NJ), has been working with us and mentored by Dr. Wen Zhang’s group for various research projects. Particularly, Neel took the leadership in the application of mycorrhizal hydroponics plants for reducing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) from water and conducted study and experiment independently. Neel’s involvement in research enabled his participation in several science competitions such as the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) and the Terra New Jersey Science Fair (TNJSF). Neel wrote a research paper and was invited to present at the regional North Jersey JSHS, where he placed second in the overall competition and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship. He was also selected among the top five finalists to compete at the national competition in Albequerque, New Mexico from May 1-4 in the oral presentation category, where he will compete for up to $12,000 in scholarships.

Neel also competed in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category where he presented his research to a panel of judges at TNJSF. Neel was a Grand Prize winner, entitling him to move on to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), in May, in Los Angeles, CA. He also won the First Place Category Award for Earth and Environmental Sciences. For special awards, he won the GENIUS Olympiad Award, Rhea Jezer Energy 21 Symposium Award, and first alternative to the New Jersey Water Environment Award.

We are proud of being the contributing roles for Neel’s achievements and wish him greater success in the future.

Explore the Nano World 

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: 

 Wen's Research Group​