Our research encompasses the following scenarios:


SELECTED Research projects

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1. Innovative Photocatalytic Processes 

2. Biofuel-producing Algae Cultivation and Harvesting. 

​3. Aquatic Behavior and Physicochemical Processes for Nanomaterials.

​4. Toxicity Assessment of Nanomaterials.

5. Molecular Level Imaging and Characterization. 

1. Federal

a. Direct funding to candidate 

  1. PI. EPA. P3 phase I: "Reactive Electrochemical Membrane (REM) Filtration for PFOA/PFOS Removal" grant number 83945201-0. Total: $15,000. Duration: 9/1/2018-06/30/2019
  2. PI. EPA. P3 phase I: "Development of Reactive Nanobubble Systems for Efficient and Scalable Harmful Algae and Cyanotoxin Removal" with grant number 83945101-0. Total: $15,000. Duration: 9/1/2018-06/30/2019
  3. PI. NSF: I-Corp: Multifunctional Ceramic Reactive Electrochemical Membrane Filtration, Total: $50,000, Award Number: 1663298. Duration:  11/01/2016-04/30/2017
  4. PI. NSF: Development of Multifunctional Reactive Electrochemical Membranes for Biomass Recovery with Fouling Reduction, Water Reuse, and Cell Pretreatment, Total: $480,000 (NJIT: $160,000), Award Number: 1603609. Duration:  09/01/2016-08/31/2019
  5. PI. Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology, NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center: Imaging and Quantifying Chemically Modified Polymer Membrane Properties at Nanoscale. Award Number: IIP1034720. Total: $165,000. Project duration: 09/01/2015-8/31/2018
  6. Co-PI. NSF: Method Development for Quantification of Physicochemical Properties of Engineered Nanoparticles and Their Local-Scale Biological Effects. 2012 NSF CBET. Total: $300,000 (NJIT: $50,000). Award Number:    1235166. Duration: 09/2012-09/2015. PI: Yongsheng Chen (former PhD advisor)
  7. Co-PI. EPA P3: Low Cost Family Water Filter for Developing Countries ($15,000 Phase I). EPA Agreement Number: SU835994. PI: Jay Meegoda. 09/2015-08/2016
  8. PI. NSF I-Corps Site Award ($1500) at NJIT (ID# F2015-2): Development of Multifunctional Reactive Electrochemical Membranes (REM) for Biomass Recovery with Fouling Reduction, Water Reuse, and Cell Pretreatment for Lipid Extraction.
  9. PI. NSF I-Corps Site Award ($1500) at NJIT (ID# F2015-3): Low Cost Family Water Filters for Safe Drinking Water Production
  10. PI. NSF I-Corps Site Award ($500) at NJIT (ID# F2015-5): Microbial fuel cells powered lighting systems for mobile toilets and electricity-lacking regions


 

b. Indirect funding to PI through federal funding mandates. Include original funding source

1.     Co-PI. Federal US Department of Transportation funded National University Transportation Center at Rutgers: Modeling the impacts of changes in freight demand, infrastructure improvements and policy measures on a metropolitan region. $94,273. Duration: 12/1/2015-12/21/2016

2.     Senior personnel. Interdisciplinary undergraduate program in nanotechnology at NJIT: Linking K-12 through Graduate Education via Nanotechnology. NSF Award Number: 1343716. $200,000. Duration: 01/2014-12/2015

 

2. State

  • PI. New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute (NJWRRI): Characterization and Assessment of Microplastic Interactions with Persistent Organic Pollutants in Surface Waters of New Jersey”. Total: $5000. Project Number: Project Number: 2017NJ390B. Duration: 09/01/2018-06/30/2019
  • PI. New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute (NJWRRI): Removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and other micropolluntants using spiky sweetgum seeds as renewable bioadsorbents to support 'waste control by waste' and point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices. Total: $5000. Project Number: 2017NJ390B. Duration: 03/01/2017-02/28/2018
  • PI. New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute (NJWRRI): Removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and other micropolluntants using spiky sweetgum seeds as renewable bioadsorbents to support 'waste control by waste' and point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices. Total: $5000. Project Number: 2017NJ390B. Duration: 03/01/2017-02/28/2018
  • Co-PI. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP): Investigation of alternative measures for flood mitigation in the Hackensack/Moonachie/Little Ferry area. Total: $289,000. Duration: 09/01/2013-12/31/2013


 

3. Industry

  • PI.  Investigation of Submicron Particle Size Distribution of Hypromellose Acetate Succinate (HPMCAS) Colloidal Solutions. Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Ltd. $5000. Duration: 4/2017 to 9/2017
  • PI. An integrated research and education on renovation of a pilot scale water reuse system for rug cleaning wastewater. Wells Rug Service Inc. $16,445. Duration: 1/25, 2017 to 08/25, 2017
  • PI. Arsenic Leach Test for Exclave Soil Samples. Hatch Mott MacDonald. $20,000. Duration: 11/09, 2015 to 05/15, 2016


 

4. Internal grant

  • PI. Microwave-assisted Reactive and Antifouling Membrane Filtration Development. Faculty Seed Grant (FSG), $7500. Duration: 11/15/2017-6/30/2018
  • PI. 2016-2017 Undergraduate Research and Innovation Student Seed Grant (Phase I: $500 and phase II: $3000): Development of Reactive Nanobubble Technology for Green and Sustainable Environmental and Agricultural Applications
  • PI. 2017-2018 Undergraduate Research and Innovation Student Seed Grant (Phase I: $500 and phase II: $3000): Can we use spiky sweet gum seeds as bio adsorbents for the removal of water contaminants?
  • PI. 2015-2016 Undergraduate Research and Innovation Student Seed Grant (Phase I: $500 and Phase II: $3000): Development of Multifunctional Reactive Electrochemical Membranes for Biomass Recovery with Fouling Reduction, Water Reuse, and Cell Pretreatment.
  • PI. 2015-2016 Undergraduate Research and Innovation Student Seed Grants (Phase I: $500 and Phase II: $3000): Microbial fuel cells powered lighting systems for mobile toilets and electricity-lacking regions
  • PI. In situ Characterization of Visible-Light-Responsive Photocatalysts for H2 Production and Pollutant Degradation using Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Faculty Seed Grant (FSG), $7500. Duration: 11/15/2014-6/30/2015
  • PI. Switchable hydrophobic-hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles for sustainable algal harvesting. NCE Research Planning Grant, $7000. Duration: 01/01/2013-6/30/2014


 

5. International grant

  • Project Director. Community Based Adaptation (CBA) Project to address climate change impact in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of Nauru, Tuvalu and Tonga funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Small Grants Programme (SGP) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In this project, Wen acts as a project consult and a project manager to host workshops for potential grantees, prepare proposal guideline (request for proposals or RFP), review project proposals and make decisions on projects to be funded.
  • Senior Personnel. China’s NSF: Controlled synthesis of zinc-based multiple sulfide/RGO and properties of visible-light photocalysis-membrane filtration system. Award Number: 51678185. Project duration: 2017/01-2020/12. 国家自然科学基金面上项目(No. 51678185)：锌基多元硫化物/RGO的控制合成及可见光催化-膜分离体系性能研究，2017/01-2020/12  
  • Senior Personnel. China’s NSF: Cell Aggregation and Dynamics induced by Algagenic Biomolecules. Award Number: 21603263. Project duration: 2017/01-2019/12国家自然科学基金青年科学基金项目（No. 21603263）：微藻生物质生产中细胞聚集机理与动力学研究，2017/01-2019/12