Dr. Yang Deng named University Distinguished Scholar

Dr. Deng is an environmental engineer who specializes in the development of innovative and sustainable water treatment technologies to clean wastewater, stormwater runoff, and landfill leachate in order to protect drinking water and groundwater supplies from toxic metals, organic pollutants, water-borne pathogens, and excess nutrients. Dr. Deng has secured over $2M in funding for his research, has authored/co-authored 115 peer reviewed articles and book chapters, and has a strong record of mentoring Montclair State University undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students, high school interns from across New Jersey, and early career scientists from around the world.

The University Distinguished Scholar award will provide Dr. Deng with a one-semester research leave, during which he and his research group will study persistent organic pollutants known as “forever chemicals,” compounds that are highly resistant to traditional methods of chemical, biological, and photolytic degradation. Examples include pesticides, herbicides, and organic chemicals used in a wide range of manufacturing processes The persistence of these compounds poses risks to human health and the environment. More effective treatments are urgently needed to effectively remove these compounds during waste and waste water treatment processes. Dr. Deng’s research semester will allow him to develop and test a new water treatment technology that targets these compounds.

Dr. Deng joins seven CSAM colleagues who have previously earned University Distinguished Scholar honors, a group that the CSAM Dean’s Office believes will continue to grow given the large number of deserving candidates in our college.

Previous Recipients

¹ Retired; ² Deceased; ³ Resigned