Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar Series: Dr. Mengyan Li, New Jersey Institute of Technology

TITLE: “Water Microbiomes: The Good, The Bad, and The Promising”

ABSTRACT:Water microbiomes, the communities of microorganisms living in water, can either help protect water quality or create new environmental and public health concerns. In this talk, I will highlight the “good,” including how bacteria and their enzymes can break down emerging contaminants such as the carcinogenic pollutant 1,4-dioxane, and the “bad,” including how microplastics can harbor and enrich antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Using approaches ranging from molecular biology to genomics and bioinformatics, we study how microbes interact with water pollutants, microplastics, and each other. These discoveries can help us develop more effective and sustainable strategies to clean contaminated water and protect human health and the environment.

BIO:Dr. Mengyan “Ian” Li is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science at New Jersey Institute of Technology, specializing in environmental microbiology and biotechnology. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Rice University, and his research focuses on discovering microbial processes that transform emerging contaminants such as PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, and antibiotics and developing sustainable treatment technologies. His research integrates modern biotechnology, including omics, single-cell analysis, and high-resolution mass spectrometry, to address challenges in water quality and the water-energy-food nexus. Dr. Li has received honors including the NSF CAREER Award, NJIT Distinguished Research Award, and RSC Emerging Investigator Award, and serves as an editor for the Journal of Hazardous Materials and Biocontaminant.