Postdoctoral Scholars
Dr. Ao Xie (
, 2022-present)
Ph.D., Clemson University, U.S.
M.S., University of Washington, U.S.
B.S., Tianjin University, China
Funding agency: National Alliance for Water Innovation (selenium removal); DOD Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program
Awards:
- Best Poster Awards (postdoc category), AEESP 2025 Research and Education Conference, Duke
- The Electrochemical Society (ECS) Industrial Electrochemistry & Electrochemical Engineering (IE&EE) Travel Grant (early career category, 2024)
Dr. David Ricardo Martínez Vargas (, 2023-present)
Ph.D., Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Mexico
M.S., Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
B.S., Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico
Funding agency: National Alliance for Water Innovation (brine management)
Awards:
- N/A
Graduate Students
Prospective Student 1 (, 2026-present)
New PhD student position in 2026 spring or fall
Environmental Engineering Major
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
-> Come join us!
Prospective Student 2 (, 2026-present)
New PhD student position in 2026 spring or fall
Environmental Engineering Major
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
-> Come join us!
Jiagen Geng (, 2023-present)
Ph.D. student, 2023 Fall
M.S., China Agricultural University, China
B.S., Hebei University of Technology, China
Funding agency: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I and II
Awards:
- Charles E. Gavin Fellowship, Auburn University (2023-2027)
Najibullah Zulfeqar (, 2023-2026)
Ph.D. student, 2023 Spring (co-advised with Dr. Ali Khosravi)
M.S., Auburn University, U.S.
B.S., Kabul University, Afghanistan
Funding agency: Auburn University Highway Research Center; Alabama Department of Transporation
Awards:
- College Award for Oral Presentation in SGCOE, Auburn University Research Symposium (2025)
- Zilan Yang (, 2021-2026)
Ph.D. candidate, 2021 Summer
M.S., Georgia Tech, U.S.
B.S., University of Georgia, U.S.
Funding agency: National Alliance for Water Innovation (selenium removal)
Awards:
- Dissertation Completion Fellowships (DCF), College of Engineering, Michigan State University (2026)
- The Electrochemical Society (ECS) Industrial Electrochemistry & Electrochemical Engineering (IE&EE) Travel Grant (graduate student category, 2024)
- 100+ Women Strong Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Auburn University (2023)
- Alabama/Mississippi Section of the American Water Works Association scholarship (2023)
- AL/MS Water Conference Poster Competition Award (2021)
- Walter and Virginia Woltosz Fellowship, Auburn University (2021-2025)
Jiaxiang Zhao (, 2021-2026)
Ph.D. student, 2021 Fall
M.S., Wageningen University, Netherlands
B.Eng., Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, China
Funding agency: National Alliance for Water Innovation (brine management)
Awards:
- Dissertation Completion Fellowships (DCF), College of Engineering, Michigan State University (2026)
- The Electrochemical Society (ECS) Industrial Electrochemistry & Electrochemical Engineering (IE&EE) Travel Grant (graduate student category, 2022)
- AL/MS Water Conference Poster Competition Award (2022)
Undergraduate Students
Sparty
It could be you!
Come join our lab.
Feel free to contact Dr. Zou for more information and consider applying for the Auburn Undergraduate Research Fellowship program.
K-12 Students
N/A
Moral Support
Meow Meow
Owner: Zilan Yang
Meow Meow is selective with canned food as she knows that many pollutants can accumulate in the food chain and end up in her body, which is why she will refuse to touch or even smell any fish/shrimp canned food. Her research interest primarily focuses on wastewater treatment, so she can get rid of all of the toxicants from natural water and solve the CATastrophic emergency on delicious canned foods.
Dalton
Owner: Ao Xie
Dalton is a sweet talker and shy adventurer. He climbed up to Ao’s shoulders and head the moment he first arrived at home and couldn’t stop purring. Plus, he got great recommendations from the shelter. He also has awesome taste as an interior designer. He likes to add a little fringe for some Bohemian vibe which fits great. He has developed an interest in computer accessories and has been testing keyboards recently.
E-WATER Lab @ Michigan State 