Szczuka Lab: 2024
Szczuka Lab: 2024
Szczuka Lab: 2023
Szczuka Lab: 2023

Principal Investigator

Aleksandra (Alex) Szczuka

Dr. Szczuka is an Assistant Professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. She completed her B.S.E. in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University, where she worked in the Trace Metals group in the Geosciences department. Dr. Szczuka earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, where she investigated how we can use emerging technologies to improve water reuse treatment in the Organic Chemistry at the Nexus (Mitch) lab. Prior to starting as a principal investigator, Dr. Szczuka completed a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Wigginton lab at U-M. Szczuka’s CV is available here.

Postdoc

  • Nazmiye Cemre Birben completed her B.S.E. in Environmental Engineering at Yildiz Technical University (Turkey). She obtained her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Institute of Environmental Sciences of Bogazici University (Turkey). Dr. Birben worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University. Her research interests include water treatment by advanced oxidation processes, mainly photolytic and photocatalytic degradation processes, water disinfection, characterization of natural organic matter under oxidative and non-oxidative conditions. Within the scope of her post-doctoral research, her interest was devoted to PFAS removal in drinking water by adsorption, and thermal regeneration of PFAS-laden granular activated carbons by microwave regeneration. Currently, Dr. Birben is working with Professor Szczuka and Professor Raskin at Ann Arbor Pilot Plant Project which examines the feasibility of single stage softening on water treatment processes.

Graduate Students

  • Yuhao is a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering. He earned his B.S.E in Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering from Northwestern Agricultural and Forestry University (China). He then completed his M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Northeastern University (Boston), where he studied the degradation of PFAS in water. Yuhao is interested in emerging contaminants in water (e.g., disinfection by-products) and advanced water treatment methods. He is working on the measurement of disinfection byproducts and their removal using advanced treatment processes.

  • Tess is a first year PhD pre-candidate in Environmental Engineering. She earned B.S. in Chemical & Soft Material Engineering from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, where she worked on a protein-inspired filter to capture phosphate from wastewater. She then worked on new sorbent synthesis and treatment train development for PFAS filtration and destruction in the private sector. She is excited to study disinfection byproducts, a different class of contaminants emerging concern disinfection byproducts, in the Szczuka group. Outside of the lab, you can find her exploring art museums & galleries, out swing dancing, or with her nose in a book

  • Zhenyu is a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering. He earned his B.S.E in Environmental Sciences in 2021 from East China Normal University, Shanghai, China, where he researched inorganic chemistry in surface water. He earned an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, where he became interested in the formation and degradation of organic contaminants in water. His current research interest is in biomolecules in drinking water systems and their halogenation. In daily life, Zhenyu enjoys hiking, soccer and cooking, and he’s also a fan of Pokemon.

  • Marta is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering. She earned her B.Eng. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where they became interested in environmental chemistry and water treatment. She is currently learning about viral inactivation through water disinfection processes. In their free time, they can be found skateboarding around campus, camped out at a cafe, or watching cartoons.

  • Abby is a master’s student from Washington, DC studying Environmental Engineering with a minor in Urban Studies. She is currently researching viral inactivation by chloramines, and is interested in both water quality and access. Outside of the lab, Abby enjoys knitting, crocheting and cooking.

  • Xiaojun is a master’s student in environmental engineering. He earned his B.S. in environmental engineering from university of California, Irvine in 2024. Currently, he is working on the pilot project at the Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing sports like football and ultimate frisbee.

  • Brian is a master’s student in Environmental Engineering. He earned his B.S.E in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2024. Currently, he is involved in the Ann Arbor Pilot Plant Project and thiol reactivity assays. Outside of the lab, Brian enjoys baking and spending time with family and friends.

Undergraduate Students

  • Gauri is a senior in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Energy Science and Policy. She is currently involved with the Ann Arbor Pilot Plant Project. She's interested in further studying groundwater remediation and treatment. In her free time she enjoys reading, playing videogames, and spending time in nature.

Alumni

  • Arnulfo Pelayo

    MSE '24

  • Natalia Alejo-Garza

    BSE TBD

  • Jordon Horton

    BSE ‘23

  • Ziheng Liang

    MSE ‘23

  • Seth Sandoval-Skeet

    MSE '24

  • Katelyn Brodsky

    BSE TBD

  • Tyler Carslgaard

    MSE TBD

  • Hunter Richards

    MSE ‘24

  • Ilan Reichbart

    BSE TBD