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Yiming Liu

Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering

Biography

Dr. Yiming Liu is an assistant professor of environmental engineering at South Dakota State University. Prior to joining SDSU, he was a Rice Academy Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, where his research developed novel materials and processes for critical mineral recovery. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in electrochemical and membrane-based separation processes for water treatment and desalination. He received his B.E. in environmental engineering from Tsinghua University.

Liu’s research addresses grand challenges in water, mineral and energy circularity, with a particular emphasis on recovering valuable resources from industrial wastewater and natural brine. His expertise spans interfacial science, electrochemistry and membrane science, complemented by skills in material synthesis, electrochemical and membrane engineering, physics-based simulations, and water chemistry. He has applied these capabilities to advance research in waste brine minimization, prevention of inorganic precipitation and critical mineral recovery. His work has resulted in first-author publications in Nature Communications, Environmental Science and Technology, Water Research, and the Journal of Membrane Science.

Education

  • B.E. in environmental engineering | Tsinghua University | 2018
  • M.S. in civil engineering | University of California, Los Angeles | 2019
  • Ph.D. in civil engineering | University of California, Los Angeles | 2023

Academic and Professional Experience

Academic Interests
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Brine Chemistry
  • Aqueous Separations
  • Materials Synthesis
Academic Responsibilities
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Service
Committees and Professional Memberships

Committees

  • Early-Career Professionals’ Chair, Managing Committee of International Water Association Nano and Water Specialist Group, March 2025-present
  • Member of Organizing Committee, Third Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science Annual Conference
  • Reviewer for various grant agencies (e.g., Renewable Natural Resources Foundation) and academic journals (e..g, Environmental Science and Technology, Desalination, and Separation and Purification Technology)

Membership

  • Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors
  • American Chemical Society
  • International Water Association
  • The North American Membrane Society
Work Experience
  1. August 2026-present, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering, South Dakota State University
  2. August 2023-July 2026, Rice Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Rice University, Houston, Texas

Research and Scholarly Work

Areas of Research
  • Brine Treatment
  • Critical Minerals
  • Membrane Separations
  • Electrically-Driven Water Treatment
  • Metal-Organic Framework
Awards and Honors
  • 2026 – Founding President Best Paper Award, Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science
  • 2025 – Outstanding Oral Presentation Award, 19th Chinese Environmental Conference
  • 2023 – Rice Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rice University
  • 2023 – University Fellowship, University of California, Los Angeles
  • 2021 – Internet of Water Idea Challenge Second Place Winner, Industrie De Nora S.p.A.
  • 2019 – Cathay Bank Scholarship (Southern California, United States)
  • 2018 – Academic Excellence Award (Twice), Tsinghua University
  • 2017 – Civil Centennial Future Scholars, The University of Hong Kong
Grants
  • Rice Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rice University Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, December 2022
Publications
  1. Zhu, Y., Liu, Y., Weng, X., Lee, J., Feng, Y., Liu, Y., Xie, T., Tu, W., Li, Q., Lou, J.* . Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2025.
  2. Feng, Y., Zhu, Y., Chen, W., Huang, X., Weng, X., Meyer, M.D., Chen, T., Liu, Y., He, Z., Hou, C., Zuo, K., Yip, N.Y., Gong, K., Lou, J.*, Li, Q.* . Nature Communications, 16, 1, 8618, 2025.
  3. Zhu, Y., Chen, M.T., Shen, H., Feng, Y., Ai, Q., Liu, Y., Yan, Y., Li, Q.*, Lou, J.* . Small Structures, 2400389, 2025.
  4. Dickinson-Cove, A., Plante, E.L., Liu, Y., Hoek, E.M.V., Simonetti, D., Sant, G.*, Jassby, D.* . Chemical Society Reviews, 54, 116-151, 2025.
  5. Liu, Y., Xiao, M., Huang, X., Park, J., Hoffman, M.E., Feng, Y., An, A.K., Li, Q., Hoek, E.M.V.*, Jassby, D.* . Nature Communications, 16, 35, 2025.
  6. Leão, A., Collin, M., Ghodkhande, S., Bouissonnie, A., Chen, X., Malin, B., Liu, Y., Hovey, G., Govindhakannan, J., Plante, E.L., Rosner, F., Jassby, D., Gädt, T., Corsini, L., Simonetti, D., Sant, G.* . ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 12, 43, 15762–15787, 2024.
  7. Municchi, F., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Cath, T.Y., Turchi, C.S., Heeley, M.B., Hoek, E.M.V., Jassby, D., Tilton, N.* . Computers and Fluids, 285, 106449, 2024.
  8. Lu, S., McGaughey, A., Im, S., Liu, Y., Wang, X., Leininger, A., Jassby, D., Hoek, E., Ren, Z.J.* . Water Research, 265, 122306, 2024.
  9. Mabry, M., Municchi, F., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Cath, T.Y., Turchi, C.S., Heeley, M.B., Hoek, E.M.V., Jassby, D., Martinand, D., Tilton, N.* . Journal of Membrane Science, 709, 123043, 2024.
  10. Heeley, M.B., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Municchi, F., Lou, J., Dudley, M., Kaddoura, M., Hoek, E.M.V., Tilton, N., Turchi, C.S., Cath, T.Y., Jassby, D.* . Desalination, 582, 117648, 2024.
  11. Lou, J., Dudley, M., Wang, J., Liu, Y., Cath, T.Y., Turchi, C.S., Heeley, M.B., Hoek, E.M.V., Jassby, D., Tilton, N.*. . Journal of Membrane Science, 668, 121206, 2023.
  12. Liu, Y., Wang, J., Hoek, E.M.V., Municchi, F., Tilton, N., Cath, T.Y., Turchi, C.S., Heeley, M.B., Jassby, D.* . Environmental Science and Technology, 57, 1, 643-654, 2023.
  13. Liu, Y., Wang, J., Jung, B., Rao, U., Sedighi, E., Hoek, E.M.V., Tilton, N., Cath, T.Y., Turchi, C.S., Heeley, M.B., Ju, Y.S., Jassby, D.* . Water Research, 218, 118503, 2022.
  14. Wu, J., Wang, J., Liu, Y., Rao, U., , Synthesis Lectures on Sustainable Development 2, (2), 1-204, 2021. Editors: Hoek, E.M.V., Jassby, D., Kaner, R.B., Morgan and Claypool Publishers, San Rafael, CA.
  15. Wang, J., Liu, Y. (co-first author), Rao, U., Dudley, M., Ebrahimi, N.D., Lou, J., Han, F., Hoek, E.M.V., Tilton, N., Cath, T.Y., Turchi, C.S., Heeley, M.B., Ju, Y.S., Jassby, D.* . Journal of Membrane Science, 626, 119188, 2021.
  16. Ren, C., Yang, P., Gao, J., Huo, X., Min, X., Bi, E.Y., Liu, Y., Wang, Y., Zhu, M., Liu, J.* . ACS Catalysis, 10, 15, 8201-8211, 2020.
  17. Feng, Y., Liao, C., Kong, L., Wu, D., Liu, Y., Lee, P., Shih, K.* . Journal of Hazardous Materials, 354, 63-71, 2018.
Mailing Address:
Crothers Engineering Hall 314
Civil & Environ Engineering-Box 2219
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007
Office Location:
Crothers Engineering Hall
Room 314
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Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering