our GROUP is MOVing TO UNiversity of Colorado BouldeR in August, 2013, due to Dr. ren's appointment as an associate professor with tenure there. Dr. Ren will bE affiliated faculty at ucd.

 

introduction

Dr. Ren directs the Environmental Biotechnology Lab at the University of Colorado Denver. His research focuses on bioenergy and biochemical production during waste treatment processes, with the goal of expanding environmental engineering from pollution clean-up to sustainable development of energy and environmental systems.

Ren lab uses bioelectroechemical systems and fermentation technology to directly convert cellulosic biomass and wastewater into H2, electricity, and value-added chemicals, and he uses molecular microbiology tools and electrochemical analyses to understand the fundamental determinant factors of those systems so as to enhance design, operation, and monitoring in concert with traditional approaches.

Interests

Bioelectrochemical Systems (BESs)
- Bioenergy and Value-added Chemical Production during waste treatment process (microbial fuel cells, microbial electrolysis cells, etc)

- Bioelectrochemical Carbon Sequestration
- Microbial Desalination systems

Environmental Biotechnology
- Environmental Remediation
- Water and Wastewater Treatment

Environmental Sustainability
- Sustainable Water Infrastructure

NewS

05/2013 - Congratulations to Ming receiving the inaugural Graduate School Outstanding Ph.D Dissertation Award and Civil Engineering Department Outstanding Graduate Award!

05/2013 - Congratulations to Ming and Casey in receving your Ph.D degree!

05/2013 - Ming, Casey, Tyler presented their research at RMAWWA/RMWEA conference and ASM conference

04/2013 - Tyler's paper is accepted for publication by JMBT. Congratulations, Tyler!

02-03/2013 - Dr. Ren was invited to give a seminars at Stanford University, Virginia Tech, and University of Maryland.

11/2012 - Dr. Ren received the 2012 Excellence in Review Award by the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)

11/2012 - Emily's New Paper "Zinc Leaching From Tire Crumb Rubber" is accepted for publication by Environmental Science & Technology. Congratulations, Emily!

09/2012 - Dr. Ren named Director of Center for Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (CSIS) at UCDenver.

08/2012 -NPR All Things Considered Reported Our Microbial Fuel Cell Technology in Gates Foundation "Reinvent the Toilet Fair". [Listen Here]

05/2012 -Dr. Ren received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to understand the niche of bioelectrochemical systems for Water-Energy Nexus.

04/2012 -Dr. Ren was selected to receive 2012 University of Colorado Denver Campus Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activities. This is the highest honor on faculty research, and it belongs to the whole group!

03/2012 -Casey's BES Team Won the 3rd Place in DOE/CU CleanTech New Venture Challenge Competition. Congratulations, Casey!

03/2012 -Ming's paper "Active Energy Harvesting from Microbial Fuel Cells at the Maximum Power Point without Using Resistors" is accepted for publication by Environmental Science & Technology. Congratulations, Ming! [News Story]

03/2012 -Dr. Ren was selected to receive College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Faculty in Research Award and Chang Junior Faculty Achievement Award. These awards belong to the whole group!

02/2012 -Casey published his first paper "Sustainable Water Desalination Using a Capacitive Microbial Desalination Cell' in Energy & Environmental Science, a top journal with an impact factor of 9.445. Congratulations, Casey!

02/2012 -Haiping's paper "Ionic Composition and Transport Mechanisms in Microbial Desalination Cells" is accepted for publication by Journal of Membrane Science, Congratulations, Haiping!

11/2011 -Dr. Park and Dr. Ren published an article "High efficiency energy harvesting from microbial fuel cells using a synchronous boost converter" on J. Power Sources.

Dr. Park and Dr. Ren published an article "Hysteresis Controller Based Maximum Power Point Tracking Energy Harvesting System for Microbial Fuel Cells" on J. Power Sources.

Wei's paper "Electrochemical corrosion of carbon steel exposed to biodiesel/simulated seawater mixture' is accepted for publication by Corrosion Science, Congratulations, Wei!

Dr. Ren received a grant from the Office of Naval Research to conduct fouling control in BESs.

Haiping's paper "Microbial Desalination Cells for Improved Performance in Wastewater Treatment, Electricity Production, and Desalination" is accepted for publication by Bioresource Technology (5-yr IF 4.901), Congratulations, Haiping!

Dr. Ren received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations. It is a very competitive program, with the award rate below 4%.

Dr. Ren was invited to present at the "7th International Conference on Environmental Anaerobic Technologies and Bioenergy" in Tianjin, China

Dr. Ren was invited to give seminars on bioelectrochemical system at Nankai University, China, and Tianjin University, China

Dr, Ren was invited to give seminars at Colorado School of Mines and Chevron Energy Company.

Dr. Ren organized a symposium titled "Emerging Issues and Solutions for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Systems" in 242nd ACS National Meeting, Denver, Colorado 8/28-9/1 2011.

Ming, Casey, Haiping, and Dania all presented at 242nd ACS National Meeting, Denver, Colorado 8/28-9/1 2011.

Dr. Ren presented group research at 3rd MFC international symposium, AEESP conference, and Battelle conference.

Congratulations Dania for graduation and new job at EPA!

Ming's paper "Carbon Nanotube Modified Air-cathodes for Electricity Production in Microbial Fuel Cells" is accepted for publication by Journal of Power Sources, (5-yr IF 4.634). Congratulations, Ming!

Ming's paper "Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber Anodes for Sustainable Power Production in Microbial Fuel Cells" is accepted for publication by Journal of Power Sources, (5-yr IF 4.634). Congratulations, Ming!

New paper "Characterization of Microbial Fuel Cells at Microbially and Electrochemically Meaningful Timescales" is accepted for publication by Environmental Science & Technology. (5-yr IF 5.397)

Our MFC powered Christmas Tree is featured on ABC TV-news! Check it out at [Link]

Jason participated in an NSF sponsored US-China low-carbon city workshop in Hongkong and also made a presentation in HKU.

Haiping's paper on MEDC is accepted for publication by Environmental Science & Technology. (5-yr IF 5.397) Congratulations, Haiping!

Wei's paper on Biodiesel Corrosion is accepted for publication by Corrosion Science. (5-yr IF 3.357) Congratulations, Wei!

The University of Colorado Denver was ranked as one of the Best Places to Work for Postdocs. [Link]

New Opening for Postdoctoral Research Associate for desalination research using bioelectrochemical systems

New paper "Time-course correlcation of biofilm properties and electrochemical performance in single-chamber microbial fuel cells" published on Bioresource Technology (5-yr IF 4.901)