Lab Goal & Directions
Advancing sustainable solutions at the intersection of water, environment, and resource recovery.
Our Mission
The Water Environment & Resource Recovery Lab (WER2L) is committed to conducting transformative research that addresses the global challenges of water scarcity, environmental contamination, and sustainable resource use.
We bridge fundamental science and applied engineering to develop innovative processes, technologies, and strategies that protect water environments and recover valuable resources from waste streams. Our work spans laboratory discovery, pilot-scale validation, and real-world implementation.
Through close collaboration with industry, municipal utilities, and government agencies, we ensure our findings translate into tangible impact on communities and ecosystems.
Research Directions
Six interconnected focus areas that define our scientific and engineering agenda.
Water Quality & Treatment
Developing advanced technologies for monitoring, treating, and restoring water quality in natural and engineered systems.
Resource Recovery
Extracting value from wastewater and solid waste streams — energy, nutrients, and reusable materials — to close the resource loop.
Environmental Sensing
Designing and deploying low-cost sensor networks and analytical tools for real-time environmental monitoring.
Sustainable Infrastructure
Integrating green engineering principles into water and wastewater infrastructure to reduce energy use and environmental footprint.
Policy & Decision Support
Translating research outcomes into practical frameworks and tools that inform environmental policy and engineering decisions.
Capacity Building
Training the next generation of engineers and scientists through rigorous interdisciplinary research and mentorship.
Core Values
- Scientific Rigor
- We uphold the highest standards of experimental design, data integrity, and peer-reviewed dissemination.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Complex environmental problems require diverse expertise — we actively partner across disciplines, institutions, and sectors.
- Real-World Impact
- Our research is driven by practical problems and measured by tangible improvements to environmental quality and human well-being.
- Inclusive Training
- We cultivate a diverse, equitable, and supportive research environment where every member can thrive and contribute.