The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Colorado State University (CSU) is currently seeking 2 graduate research assistants (Ph.D. students are preferred, although M.S. students are considered) to start in Fall 2024. Potential research topics include (1) design functional membrane materials for effective and resilient membrane desalination; (2) improve the efficiency of brine crystallizer (the most energy-consumptive process towards zero or minimal liquid discharge, ZLD/MLD); and (3) elucidate solute transport across membranes used in reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. The students are expected to perform interdisciplinary research at the interface of membrane science, polymer science, surface science, mineralogy, and/or environmental chemistry for pursuing cost- and energy-efficient membrane desalination and water purification. Students who are interested in performing cutting-edge studies in these areas are encouraged to contact Dr. Tiezheng Tong by visiting https://www.engr.colostate.edu/ce/tiezheng-tong/ or sending an email to tiezheng.tong@colostate.edu for more information.
The ideal candidates are expected to have a B.S. degree (M.S. degree preferred) in environmental engineering, chemistry, materials science, geology, or closely related fields. Previous research experiences on membrane materials and processes (e.g., reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and membrane distillation), polymer synthesis and characterization, hypersaline brine treatment, and mineral formation will be favorable. Excellent writing and verbal communication skills will be highly valued in the application review process.
Perspective students are encouraged to send the following materials in a single PDF directly to Dr. Tiezheng Tong (tiezheng.tong@colostate.edu): a cover letter stating your research interests and career goals, your C.V. or resume, names and contact information of at least two references, and a copy of representative peer-reviewed publications (if applicable). The successful candidates will receive full funding support including tuition, a competitive stipend, and benefits. The CEE Department of CSU accepts graduation applications along the year.
CSU campus is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, a vibrant community near both the Rocky Mountain National Park and the city of Denver, which is routinely recognized among the most desirable places to live in the U.S. Fort Collins enjoys approximately 300 sunny days a year and offers a variety of exciting recreational and cultural activities. For more information regarding to the application process and basic requirement at CSU, please visit https://www.engr.colostate.edu/ce/graduate-application-information/.
About the PI: Dr. Tiezheng Tong is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University (CSU). He joined CSU in 2017 after completing a postdoc position in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University. Prior to his Ph.D. study, he graduated from Beijing Normal University (with highest honor) and Tsinghua University with B.S. and M.S. degrees, respectively, both of which are in environmental engineering. He is the leading author or co-author of ~70 peer-reviewed journal articles, which have been cited by more than 5,100 times globally with an H-index of 36. He is the recipient of several academic and professional awards, including the James J. Morgan Early Career Award (honorable mention, 2024), the George T. Abell Outstanding Early-Career Faculty Award and Faculty Award for Excellence in Research from CSU (2023), the CAPEES/UCEEF Early Career Award from Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (2023), the CAREER Award from National Science Foundation (2022), the 40 under 40 Award from American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (2022), ACS ES&T Engineering Best Paper Award (2022), American Chemistry Society the Young Membrane Scientist Award from North American Membrane Society (2020), a student award from Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (2013), and Environmental Chemistry Graduate Student Award from American Chemistry Society (2012). His current research interests include (1) achieving energy-efficient treatment of hypersaline brines for circular water economy, (2) elucidating fundamental phenomena at the water-membrane interface, and (3) applying data-driven approaches to promote water sustainability.