About the Principle Investigator
Dr. Tiezheng Tong is currently a tenured Associate Professor at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment (SSEBE), Arizona State University (ASU). He was a tenured Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University (CSU). He completed a postdoc position in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University and 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 the highest honor) and Tsinghua University with B.S. and M.S. degrees, respectively, both of which are in Environmental Engineering. He has published nearly 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, which have been cited by ~8,000 times globally with an H-index of 42. He is the recipient of many academic and professional awards, including the Award for Environmental Applications of Data-Driven Approaches from Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES, 2025), the Excellence in Review Award from ACS ES&T Engineering (2025), Rising Star in Environmental Research from ACS Environmental Au (2024), the Young Talent Award from Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (2024), the James J. Morgan Early Career Award from American Chemical Society (honorable mention, 2024), the Excellence in Review Award from Environmental Science & Technology (2023), 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 Super Reviewer Award from Environmental Science & Technology (2022), 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), 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). He is currently an editorial board member of Journal of Membrane Science. His current research interests include (1) developing novel materials and processes to achieve circular water economy, (2) understanding and mitigating mineral scaling in membrane desalination, and (3) elucidating mechanisms of solute transport across selective membranes for water purification and resource recovery.
Dr. Tiezheng Tong is currently a tenured Associate Professor at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment (SSEBE), Arizona State University (ASU). He was a tenured Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University (CSU). He completed a postdoc position in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University and 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 the highest honor) and Tsinghua University with B.S. and M.S. degrees, respectively, both of which are in Environmental Engineering. He has published nearly 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, which have been cited by ~8,000 times globally with an H-index of 42. He is the recipient of many academic and professional awards, including the Award for Environmental Applications of Data-Driven Approaches from Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES, 2025), the Excellence in Review Award from ACS ES&T Engineering (2025), Rising Star in Environmental Research from ACS Environmental Au (2024), the Young Talent Award from Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (2024), the James J. Morgan Early Career Award from American Chemical Society (honorable mention, 2024), the Excellence in Review Award from Environmental Science & Technology (2023), 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 Super Reviewer Award from Environmental Science & Technology (2022), 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), 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). He is currently an editorial board member of Journal of Membrane Science. His current research interests include (1) developing novel materials and processes to achieve circular water economy, (2) understanding and mitigating mineral scaling in membrane desalination, and (3) elucidating mechanisms of solute transport across selective membranes for water purification and resource recovery.
Education
Northwestern University Civil and Environmental Engineering Doctor of Philosophy 2015
Northwestern University Civil and Environmental Engineering Master of Science 2011
Tsinghua University Environmental Science and Engineering Master of Science 2010
Beijing Normal University Environmental Engineering Bachelor of Science 2008
Northwestern University Civil and Environmental Engineering Doctor of Philosophy 2015
Northwestern University Civil and Environmental Engineering Master of Science 2011
Tsinghua University Environmental Science and Engineering Master of Science 2010
Beijing Normal University Environmental Engineering Bachelor of Science 2008
Academic Appointment
08/2024 － present Associate Professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University
07/2023 － 08/2024 Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
08/2017 － 06/2023 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
08/2015 － 07/2017 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University
09/2010 － 07/2015 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University
08/2024 － present Associate Professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University
07/2023 － 08/2024 Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
08/2017 － 06/2023 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
08/2015 － 07/2017 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University
09/2010 － 07/2015 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University
Selected Awards and Honors
2025 Invited to attend the Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering (FOE) Symposium, U.S. National Academy of Engineering
2025 Excellence in Review Award, ACS ES&T Engineering, American Chemical Society
2025 Award for Environmental Applications of Data-Driven Approaches, Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES)
2024. Highly Ranked Scholar (top 0.05% in the Specialty of Distillation worldwide), ScholarGPS.
2024 Rising Star in Environmental Research, ACS Environmental Au, American Chemical Society
2024 Young Talent Award, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, Springer Nature
2024 James J. Morgan Early Career Award (honorable mention), American Chemical Society
2023 Excellence in Review Award, Environmental Science & Technology, American Chemical Society
2023 George T. Abell Outstanding Early-Career Faculty Award, College of Engineering, Colorado State University
2023 Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
2023 CAPEES/UCEEF Early Career Award, Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES)
2022 Super Reviewer Award, Environmental Science & Technology, American Chemical Society
2022 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, National Science Foundation
2022 40 under 40 Award, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
2022 Inaugural ACS ES&T Engineering Best Paper Award, American Chemical Society
2020 Young Membrane Scientist Award, North American Membrane Society
2016 Excellence in Reviewing Award, Water, Air & Soil Pollution, Springer
2014 Royal E. Cabell Terminal Year Fellowship, Northwestern University
2013 Student Award, Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization
2013 Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Student Scholarship Award, Illinois Section of American Society of Civil Engineers, Chicago, IL (graduate-student level)
2013 Certificate of Merit Award for presentation at the American Chemical Society National Meeting, American Chemical Society
2012 Environmental Chemistry Graduate Student Award, American Chemical Society
2012 Goldschmidt Travel Grant
2011 Student Research Award, Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern
2010 Walter P. Murphy Fellowship, Northwestern University
2009 Mei-shang International Scholarship (top 5%), Tsinghua University
2008 Outstanding Senior Undergraduate Award of Beijing City (top 5%)
2008 Best Undergraduate Thesis with Honor, Beijing Normal University
2008 Outstanding Senior Award of Beijing Normal University
2025 Invited to attend the Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering (FOE) Symposium, U.S. National Academy of Engineering
2025 Excellence in Review Award, ACS ES&T Engineering, American Chemical Society
2025 Award for Environmental Applications of Data-Driven Approaches, Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES)
2024. Highly Ranked Scholar (top 0.05% in the Specialty of Distillation worldwide), ScholarGPS.
2024 Rising Star in Environmental Research, ACS Environmental Au, American Chemical Society
2024 Young Talent Award, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, Springer Nature
2024 James J. Morgan Early Career Award (honorable mention), American Chemical Society
2023 Excellence in Review Award, Environmental Science & Technology, American Chemical Society
2023 George T. Abell Outstanding Early-Career Faculty Award, College of Engineering, Colorado State University
2023 Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
2023 CAPEES/UCEEF Early Career Award, Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES)
2022 Super Reviewer Award, Environmental Science & Technology, American Chemical Society
2022 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, National Science Foundation
2022 40 under 40 Award, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
2022 Inaugural ACS ES&T Engineering Best Paper Award, American Chemical Society
2020 Young Membrane Scientist Award, North American Membrane Society
2016 Excellence in Reviewing Award, Water, Air & Soil Pollution, Springer
2014 Royal E. Cabell Terminal Year Fellowship, Northwestern University
2013 Student Award, Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization
2013 Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Student Scholarship Award, Illinois Section of American Society of Civil Engineers, Chicago, IL (graduate-student level)
2013 Certificate of Merit Award for presentation at the American Chemical Society National Meeting, American Chemical Society
2012 Environmental Chemistry Graduate Student Award, American Chemical Society
2012 Goldschmidt Travel Grant
2011 Student Research Award, Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern
2010 Walter P. Murphy Fellowship, Northwestern University
2009 Mei-shang International Scholarship (top 5%), Tsinghua University
2008 Outstanding Senior Undergraduate Award of Beijing City (top 5%)
2008 Best Undergraduate Thesis with Honor, Beijing Normal University
2008 Outstanding Senior Award of Beijing Normal University
Professional Services
Peer-reviewed Journal Referee
ACS Applied & Materials Interfaces, ACS Nano, ACS ES&T Engineering, ACS ES&T Water, Desalination, Engineering, Environmental International, Environmental Pollution, Environmental Science: Nano, Environmental Science: Water Science & Technology, Environmental Science & Technology, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Nano Letters, Nature Communications, Nature Sustainability, Nature Water, npj Clean Water, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, Journal of Membrane Science, Journal of Membrane Science Letter, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Journal of Water Process Engineering, Langmuir, PLoS One, Separation & Purification Reviews, Separation & Purification Technology, Science of the Total Environment, Science Advances, The ISME Journal, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, Water Research, Water Research X
Editorial Services
Associate Editor, Desalination (2025 – present)
Associate Editor, npj Clean Water (2025 – present)
Early Career Editorial Advisory Board, Environmental Science & Technology (2025 – present)
Guest Editor, Desalination (2023)
Editorial Board, Journal of Membrane Science (2023 – present)
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Membrane Science and Technology (2022 – present)
Early Career Editorial Board, Journal of Membrane Science (2021 – 2023)
Topic Editor, Membranes (2020 – present)
Grant Review Panel
National Science Foundation: Environmental Engineering Program (panel four times), Nanoscale Interactions Program (panel one time), and Environmental Chemical Science Program
The U.S. − Egypt S&T Joint Fund, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (panel one time)
The USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Exploratory Research program
American Chemical Society - ACS Petroleum Research Fund
The German-Israeli Water Technology Cooperation Program, Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
BARD - The US-Israel Agricultural Research & Development Fund
Peer-reviewed Journal Referee
ACS Applied & Materials Interfaces, ACS Nano, ACS ES&T Engineering, ACS ES&T Water, Desalination, Engineering, Environmental International, Environmental Pollution, Environmental Science: Nano, Environmental Science: Water Science & Technology, Environmental Science & Technology, Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Nano Letters, Nature Communications, Nature Sustainability, Nature Water, npj Clean Water, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, Journal of Membrane Science, Journal of Membrane Science Letter, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Journal of Water Process Engineering, Langmuir, PLoS One, Separation & Purification Reviews, Separation & Purification Technology, Science of the Total Environment, Science Advances, The ISME Journal, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, Water Research, Water Research X
Editorial Services
Associate Editor, Desalination (2025 – present)
Associate Editor, npj Clean Water (2025 – present)
Early Career Editorial Advisory Board, Environmental Science & Technology (2025 – present)
Guest Editor, Desalination (2023)
Editorial Board, Journal of Membrane Science (2023 – present)
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Membrane Science and Technology (2022 – present)
Early Career Editorial Board, Journal of Membrane Science (2021 – 2023)
Topic Editor, Membranes (2020 – present)
Grant Review Panel
National Science Foundation: Environmental Engineering Program (panel four times), Nanoscale Interactions Program (panel one time), and Environmental Chemical Science Program
The U.S. − Egypt S&T Joint Fund, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (panel one time)
The USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Exploratory Research program
American Chemical Society - ACS Petroleum Research Fund
The German-Israeli Water Technology Cooperation Program, Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
BARD - The US-Israel Agricultural Research & Development Fund