2024 Postdoctoral Fellows
Yuxuan Huang is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University, under the supervision of Dr. Ngai Yin Yip. Yuxuan received his Master’s in Environmental Engineering at Columbia University and Bachelor in Energy Science and Engineering at City University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on separation technologies and ion-exchange membranes (IEMs), where he aims to advance two frontiers of the current IEM field: conductivity-permselectivity tradeoff and limitations on specific ion selectivity. The work contributes to rational development of more advanced membranes and their efficient deployment in water, energy, and environmental domains.
Dr. Youngkun Chung graduated with his Ph.D. in August 2022 from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Dr. Chung was awarded the Best Paper at KAIST in 2022 for his Ph.D., and selected as an outstanding Ph.D. Candidate in 2021 and Global Postdoctoral Fellow in 2023 from the Korean National Research Foundation (NRF), respectively. Before joining the WaTER Institute in August 2024, Dr. Chung made substantial contributions at Rice and the Testbed team of NEWT Center with Professor Michael Wong as a postdoc through managing several projects related to PFAS, funded by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) for pitch to pilot (P2P) program, and the Korean NRF for Global Research Collaborations with KAIST. Dr. Chung has 17 published and soon-to-be-published papers and 5 pending/issued patents in the environmental field. His research focuses on developing advanced water treatment processes using ceramic membranes incorporated with heterogeneous catalysts, with a particular interest in environmental and energy applications that promote green and sustainable chemistry innovations. He has in-depth knowledge and skills, including synthesis of nanomaterials and inorganic membranes, analysis of micropollutants by LC/MS with various extraction methods, and the holistic design/operation of water treatment modules at laboratory- and pilot-scale.
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RWI Fellowship Application: Proposal Evaluation & Requirements
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Position Summary
Postdoctoral Fellows will be recognized within the Rice University Academy of Fellows, which requires an outstanding record of scholarship and exceptional potential for future intellectual achievement. A commitment to interdisciplinary water technology research is also required.
Applicants for the 2024 competition should have completed all requirements for the doctorate before August 31, 2024, and submit a research proposal along with their CV.
Fellowships are announced in the Spring and determined in the Fall semester. Check back for openings.
2024-2025 Fellowship Application: CLOSED
View details about the application requirements below.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
1. Does the proposal have a high potential to advance the Rice WaTER Institute’s mission and enhance its impact?
2. Does the proposal have high merit and originality (including compelling approach to overcome scientific, technical and scaleup barriers), and offer a transformative new idea that is exciting to industry and/other stakeholders?
3. Pending satisfactory results, is there a clear and significant potential for collaboration with other academic partners leading to significant external funding?
4. If the proposal addresses ongoing research by the Institute, does it offer a superior interdisciplinary alternative?
Special Instructions to Applicants: Please attach a proposal along with a CV and three references. See below for proposal evaluation criteria.
Research project proposals do not have a template, but must address all the above evaluation criteria (with a proposed duration of 24 months) and not exceed 3 pages with Times Roman Font 12. Brevity is appreciated.
Requirements
Ph.D. or equivalent degreeSkills
Proficiency in the areas of specialization listed above, encompassing possession, comprehension, and application of comprehensive knowledge. Excellent communication skills to articulate their research findings both orally and in writing. Ability to work independently and professionally with minimal supervision and direction. Ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment.Essential Functions
Performs experiments, analyzes data, and/or develops models. Publishes and presents research findings. Supports project management and collaboration across institutions, disciplines and with the Institute’s industrial members.