Post Docs

Bosen Jin, Ph.D. 

Bosen Jin started his PhD study in 2020 and "PhinisheD" in 2024. He earned his Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from University of North Dakota in May 2019, and he held a Bachler of Science degree in Environmental Science from Wuhan University, China. Bosen Jin is currently working on one group of emerging contaminants: poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). His research focuses on the bioremediation of PFAS by anaerobic bacteria. He will become a tenure-track assistant professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University in Jan. 2026. 

Qin Dong, Ph.D. 

Qin Dong joined the group in Sep. 2025. She earned her Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa and holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on addressing emerging and legacy environmental issues through deeper understanding of microbial community resources and functions to inform biotechnology design and bioremediation. In M.E.N. Group, she will work on PFAS biotransformation and the identification of related key enzymes. Outside of research, Qin enjoys Pilates, travelling, and exploring Asian cuisines.

Graduate Students

	Chujing Zheng, Ph.D. Student Chujing Zheng joined the group in 2021. She earned her Master's degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from Central South University, China. She is interested in investigating the occurrence and dissipation of antibiotic genes in the environment especially the soil system. She also feels excited to explore, share, and hear different research stories. Besides being a passionate "researcher", she loves to play table tennis, basketball, and the piano as a Muggle.
	Yiwen Zhu, Ph.D. Student Yiwen joined the group in 2022. She earned her Master of Science degree in Biotechnology from Northwestern University and Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from University of California Los Angeles. Her research project will focus on in situ PFAS precursor biotransformation and defluorination. Combining analytical chemistry and molecular biology techniques, she will also investigate the relationship between functional enzymes and PFAS precursor biotransformation rate. Outside of the lab, Yiwen enjoys SoCal sunny life. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying out new food, as well as hiking and travelling.
	David Alfaro III, Ph.D. Student David Alfaro III started his PhD study in Fall 2021. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of California Riverside. David has long been interested in the fate, impact, and remediation of environmental contaminants.        His research will investigate the capability of electrochemical systems to augment the microbial defluorination of PFAS. David is happy to be continuing his education in his hometown and likes fishkeeping, board games, and vegan food events.
	Weiyang Zhao, Ph.D. Student Weiyang Zhao joined the group in 2022. She earned her Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from University of Southern California in May 2021, and she held a Bachler’s Degree of Agriculture from Zhejiang Agricultural and Forestry University, China. Weiyang is interested in developing bioremediation to mitigate contaminated environments. Her previous research topic included combined biomass carbon and mycorrhizal fungi for remediation of PCBs-contaminated soils. She will be working on microbial defluorination in M.E.N. group.       Fun facts about Weiyang are that she is a beginner in motorcycle, a jigsaw puzzles and Lego enthusiast, and a cat person.
	Fengjun Xu, Ph.D. Student Fengjun Xu joined the group in Fall 2022. He got his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from Zhejiang University, China. Fengjun is fascinated by the magic of the microbial kingdom. His Ph.D. study is mainly about elucidating biological mechanisms of PFAS transformation and degradation. Having a good command of molecular biology and biochemistry, he will go down to the gene level and try to figure out how specific enzymes serendipitously, or promiscuously, act on PFAS. Out of the lab, Fengjun likes doing sports, such as running and playing basketball. Besides, he also enjoys cooking, although being a poor cook.
	Daisy Herrera, Ph.D. Student Daisy earned B.S. in Environmental Sciences from UCR, she is also currently an intern for the USDA Salinity Lab located on the UCR campus working on antibiotic resistance. She did her capstone project in M.E.N. Group on determining individual pesticides that may be contributing to a strong resistance in an E. Coli population when in contact with low level streptomycin. She will continue her current research in the same group as a Ph.D. student Fall 2022.
	Roxanna Pignolet, Ph.D. Student Roxanna Pignolet joined the group in 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California Davis. Her research interests include using molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology approaches for applications in bioremediation. Roxanna’s PhD research is focused on studying the microbial enzymes and pathways involved in the transformation of PFAS precursors. Outside of lab, she enjoys hiking, baking cookies, and exploring the local area with friends.
	I am a little "bug" from the nature. I may be useful for human beings, awaiting for someone to recognize my talents and make me more powerful. Are you the one?

Alumni

	Shun Che, Ph.D. Shun earned his Ph.D. in Summer 2022. He is now working at the SINOPEC Research Institute of Safety Engineering in China.
	Huaqing Liu, Ph.D. Huaqing, who was a postdoc in M.E.N. Group in 2021 - 2022, is now a Professor at Shandong University of Science & Technology as a Professor.
	Yue Xing, Ph.D. Yue earned her Ph.D. of CEE@UIUC in 2021. She is currently working at Wondfo Inc. in San Diego.
	Yaochun Yu, Ph.D. Yaochun earned his Ph.D. of CEE @ UIUC in 2021. He is now a postdoc researcher at Eawag, Switzerland and will be a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University in Jan, 2026.  Motto: “The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to break through, to go up, to achieve, to conquer.”
	Xiaoxi Kang, M.S. Xiaoxi obtained her bachelor’s degree in Zhejiang University in China and finished her master’s degree in University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Environmental Engineering. She graduated from UCR with a 2nd MS degree. She is now a PhD student at West Lake University in China with Dr. Feng Ju. All the best to Xiaoxi.
	Kunyang Zhang, M.S. Kunyang graduated as MS in Dec. 2018. He eared his PhD at ETH, Switzerland.
	Zhaohui An, M.S. Zhaohui was a MS student of 2017, who was working on emerging organic contaminants removal for water reuse and defluorination projects. He earned his PhD at Virginia Tech.
	Bing Xu, M.S. Bing was a MS student of 2016, who was working on DAMO enrichment during her 2-year MS study at UIUC.
	Jing Yuan Jing was a visiting student from Tongji University, China. My research focuses on building strictly anaerobic reactors, referring to the sequential batch reactor technique (SBR), for enriching denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidizing (DAMO) bacteria and archaea from anaerobic sludge. She did her graduate study at Harvard.