Research

The utilization of nanotechnology in diverse fields will inevitably result in the release of engineered nanomaterials into our environment. Currently, the impacts of these engineered nanomaterials on the environment, ecosystem, and human health are still being investigated. Our group seeks to understand the fate, transport, and bioavailability of these emerging nanomaterials once they enter our natural and engineered aquatic systems. In our laboratory, we characterize the surface chemistry of a range of engineered nanomaterials and systematically investigate their transport behavior in model systems with solution chemistries representative of the ones of natural and engineered aquatic systems. Our work will also have impacts on the utilization of nanoparticles for purposes of environmental remediation and drinking water treatment since these applications depend on the surface chemistry and stability of the nanoparticles. Facilities in our laboratory include: Q-Sense Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring Brookhaven Goniometer and Laser Light Scattering System Brookhaven ZetaPALS Electrophoretic Mobility Analyzer Direct-Observation Membrane Filtration System * We are currently looking for Ph.D. students and post-docs to join our group. Students with background in environmental engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, or physics are encouraged to apply. Please send your e-mails to kailoon.chen@jhu.edu for more information. * * Hopkins undergraduate students interested in gaining research experience in the lab are also encouraged to contact Kai Loon. *