Pioneering Water Research and Mentorship: The Work of Woo Hyoung Lee at UCF
Introduction
Woo Hyoung Lee, Ph.D., P.E., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering at the University of Central Florida (UCF). His work focuses on addressing critical environmental challenges through innovative research and dedicated mentorship. This article will explore Dr. Lee's background, research interests, mentorship philosophy, and the impact he has on his students and the broader scientific community.
Academic Background and Professional Experience
Dr. Lee's academic journey has provided him with a strong foundation in environmental engineering. He obtained his B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Chonnam National University in 1996 and his M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Korea University in 2001. He furthered his education by earning a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, in 2009.
Before joining UCF, Dr. Lee gained valuable experience at the Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory and as an Office of Naval Research Summer Faculty Fellow at the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Carderock Division. He also serves on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Board of Scientific Counselors Social and Community Science Subcommittee. He is a registered professional engineer (P.E.).
Research Focus: Smart Water Management and Bioenergy Production
Dr. Lee's research interests are diverse and impactful, focusing on sustainable solutions for water and wastewater management. To date, his professional work and research have encompassed the development and use of electrochemical microsensors for water quality monitoring, environmental biotechnology, and bioenergy production. His current research interests include:
- Smart Water and Wastewater Management: Developing innovative approaches to optimize water and wastewater treatment processes.
- Innovative Renewable Bioenergy Production: Exploring environmentally responsible and cost-effective bioenergy production from wastewater treatment processes.
- Algae-Bacterial Symbiosis Processes: Investigating the synergistic relationship between algae and bacteria for enhanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery.
- Emulsion Characterization for Bilge Water Treatment: Developing methods to effectively treat bilge water, which is often contaminated with oil and other pollutants.
- Microbial Fuel Cell Technology (MFC): Utilizing MFC technology for oil degradation and energy generation.
- Ballast Water Quality Monitoring: Addressing the environmental concerns associated with ballast water discharge from ships.
- Nitrification and Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems: Studying and mitigating nitrification and corrosion issues to ensure safe drinking water.
Currently, undergraduate and graduate students in his lab have been developing a biopolymer-based simple lead check which can detect traces of lead (Pb) in tap water, on site.
Mentorship Philosophy and Student Success
Dr. Lee is deeply committed to mentoring students and fostering their development as future engineers and researchers. According to the 37 students who have been mentored by Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee, research experience is very beneficial to students who will pursue careers in industry, rather than in academia. He emphasizes skills that will help students design solutions for urgent existing and emerging environmental problems. He always seeks to help his students to “understand how their skills apply in the larger world.” This mentorship philosophy has helped Dr. Lee’s students to achieve great success, both in terms of traditional academic outputs and in design competitions.
Dr. Lee's undergraduate researchers have been listed as authors on seven papers in leading journals (including two which made the cover of Analytical Chemistry and Micromachines) and given many conference presentations.
His students have reflected that “It is an incredible feeling knowing that people see a lot of value in our research and know that this is something that can help people and the environment.” New students were amazed at how far their projects had come and how, through research, they were able to contribute to real-world solutions: “It was my first ever project in this research group and I loved it, I wanted to support innovative answers to real-world problems.” Another noted, “The team and the project itself truly reflect the spirit of the University, with people from many different backgrounds and majors coming together to create a novel, interdisciplinary answer to a major problem.
Dr. Lee is not someone who is content to rest on his laurels as a mentor, though! He is always learning, participating in FCTL workshops and Summer Faculty Development Conference, and National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity Bootcamp to improve his skills as a mentor and instructor. Similarly, he helps his students take advantage of the great resources available at UCF: his students have participated in the Research and Mentoring (RAMP) and EXCEL-COMPASS programs, held Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships, and won monetary awards at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) East Central Branch Environmental & Water Resources Institute and American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA) Undergraduate Research fellowship. They also received the Burnett Research Scholars Grant, ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry Undergraduate Award, and Judge’s Choice winner at the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence (SURE).
Funding and Recognition
Dr. Lee’s research has received 32 funding awards from the USDA, the Department of Energy, NASA, and many other funding bodies. His students have also achieved recognition in competitions such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s P3 “People, Prosperity, and the Planet” competition. The team additionally received a sustainable energy award at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington DC, the nation’s largest science festival.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Outreach
Dr. Lee actively promotes interdisciplinary research and collaboration. UCF provides excellent interdisciplinary research opportunities like Smart Cities. He reaches out to students in the classrooms and engage them with recent research trends and advances in science and technology development to show how the fundamentals that they learn in classrooms can be used and applied to the real world. He does not limit the outreach to department courses. Participating as guest lecturers in other departments such as the chemistry department can often provide communication with students who have a strong background in chemistry.
Select Publications
- Lee, W. H., Wahman, D.G.*, Lytle, D.A., Pressman, J.G., and Chung, J.
- Lee, W.H.*, Park, C.Y.†, Diaz, D.†, Rodriguez, K.L.†, Chung, J., Church, J., Willner, M.R., Lundin, J.G., Paynter, D.M.
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