Dr. Yiming Liu is an incoming Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering and an independent Principal Investigator (PI) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at South Dakota State University, beginning in August 2026.
Dr. Liu is seeking two highly motivated Ph.D. students (and outstanding M.S. students) to join his research group starting in Fall 2026 or Spring 2027. The research group develops next-generation membrane and electrochemical technologies with a unique emphasis on innovations at the materials–water interface. Current research areas include:
- Critical mineral recovery (e.g., rare earth elements)
- Water reuse and desalination
- Electrodialysis and electrochemical separations
- Membrane science and engineering
- Advanced materials for environmental applications
Applicants with backgrounds in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or closely related disciplines are encouraged to apply. Interested students should email Dr. Yiming Liu at yiming.liu@sdstate.edu with a single PDF containing their CV and academic transcript, along with a brief statement of interest in the email.
Application Requirement:
All applicants must submit an application through the South Dakota State University Graduate School to our program. Direct inquiries are welcome, but only applicants who complete the official graduate application can be considered.
Graduate application: https://www.sdstate.edu/graduate-school