Berkeley, California, United States
My research interests lie at the interface of nanomaterials and membrane science and engineering for sustainable water, energy and life sciences. Prior to Berkeley Lab (LBNL), I was a postdoc fellow at the Physical and Life Sciences Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). At LLNL, I joined a team striving to develop smart dynamic fabric materials that can sense and protectively respond to chemical and biological agents for protective clothing. I earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Connecticut (under the advisement of Prof. Jeffrey McCutcheon). My PhD research focused on pioneering the development of a new and effective generation of nanofiber-supported thin film composite membrane platform for sustainable water and energy production by harnessing salinity-gradient energy via osmotically-driven membrane processes. My work also focused on developing as thorough a mathematical transport model as possible to deconvolute all mass transfer resistances in water and solute transport across the membrane, offering opportunities for better predictive models and advanced membrane and system designs with precise control to be proposed.
School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
Highlights: - At the crossroad of water and energy, I've been contributing to bringing Berkeley Lab's Water Technologies to the World by coupling advanced functional nano-materials with emerging separation processes. - Co-chaired different technical sessions at American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), focusing on membrane science and water remediation. (https://www.aiche.org/proceedings/people/ngoc-bui-1) - June 2018 - May 2019: Communication Committee Leader at Berkeley Lab Postdoc Association (BLPA): proactively helped build a vibrant community where Berkeley Lab's postdocs across disciplines broaden their networks, reinforce their collaborations and enrich their experience. Besides working with other members in organizing different events, including but not limited to the 2018 Bay Area Postdoc Symposium, I initiated "Coffee with Postdocs", an activity where science conducted by postdocs across the lab is highlighted through 1:1 interviews, monthly BLPA blog articles, and the Lab's Newsletter. - Nominated to attend NextProf Nexus 2018 Workshop (UC Berkeley - UMich - Ann Arbor), and 2018 NAWI Hub NexGen Research Meeting (ORNL, Oak Ridge, TN).
Highlights: - Studied transport phenomena through vertically-aligned carbon nano-tube membranes which are building blocks for futuristic smart fabrics. - Received Deputy Director for Science and Technology Excellence in Publication Award for Applied Science (2017). - Co-chaired different technical sessions at American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), focusing on membrane science and water remediation.
Highlights: Studied advanced porous carbon materials for energy storage devices