Sung Hee Joo

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Sung Hee Joo

Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering

Engineering and Engineering Technology

Office Hours

6 hours per week (other hours by appointment)

Biography

I have 20 years of working experience in the field of environmental engineering (nine years as an environmental faculty member at several universities and 11 years in industry).

Research Interests

    I have expertise and experience in the fields of climate change and microplastics, water resources, water and wastewater treatment and reuse, bioenergy, environmental nanotechnology, environmental hydrology, physical/chemical environmental engineering processes, innovative processes for water/wastewater treatment, membrane technologies for water reuse, fate and transport of contaminants in the environment, advanced treatment technologies for emerging environmental contaminants, aquatic chemistry, water quality, hazardous/industrial wastes, and environmental applications of nanomaterials.

Teaching Interests

    My research and teaching experiences at academic institutions and industrial companies have equipped me to successfully teach a number of subjects in my field. My teaching goal is to support students to gain (through classroom learning) an understanding of the discipline standards and modes of inquiry that will support their long-term professional growth. I believe that education needs to inspire students’ interest and motivate them through active learning environments. By the end of each course, it is my goal that students are both technically literate about the course and more deeply knowledgeable in the subject, self-sufficiency, and the ability to think critically. I like to teach all my students to fully understand all the concepts and principles learned in the class and to develop their creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration with their peers. To this end, I aim to create an atmosphere in which all students can achieve their goals. I believe that teachers must be enthusiastic enough to motivate their students to want to learn the subject matter. In this regard, it would be ideal for teachers to serve as role models for their students. I also strongly believe that teaching while utilizing strategies that take advantage of “hands-on experience,” “more interactions with teachers,” “demonstration of problem-solving procedure and potential pitfalls,” and “developing professional skills” enables students to have a valuable learning experience and attain necessary skills for their future success.

Education

PhD in Environmental Engineering

The University of New South Wales (UNSW, Sydney)

Published Works

    Joo, S. (2026). Role-Playing and Gamification as Catalysts for Environmental Problem-Solving in Engineering Education. Frontiers in Education , 11790898. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1790898. Joo, S. (2026). Impact of Microplastics in Biosolids on Carbon Cycling and Food Systems. Journal of Carbon Research , 12(2), 34. . Joo, S. (2026). Integrating Problem-Based Learning into a Senior Engineering Design Course: A Sustainability-Focused Approach to Microplastic Removal from Stormwater. Sustainability , 18(7), 3391. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073391. Joo, S. (2026). Microplastics in Biosolids: Integrating Environmental Risk Assessment into Sustainability Engineering Education . Journal of Agriculture & Education Research , 4(1), 1-4. . Joo, S. (2026). Emerging challenges from plastics-driven climate change. Microplastics , 5(1), 37. . Joo, S., Knauer, K., Su, C., Toborek, M. (2025). Antibiotic Resistance in Plastisphere. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering , 13(1), 115217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.115217. . Joo, S. (2025). Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics: pathways, toxicity, and intervention strategies. Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology Open Access, Medwin Publishers, 10(3), 000348. . Joo, S. (2024). Antimicrobial nanomaterials for emerging contaminants. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. MDPI: Water . Joo, S. (2024). Impact assessment of coronavirus waste on coastal and marine environments. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Marine Pollution Bulletin . Joo, S. (2024). Ecotoxicity assessment of consumer product-driven contaminant particles in a marine environment. . 7th International Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change, Joo, S. (2024). Novel nanohybrids for environmental applications. International Forum on Chemical Engineering and Catalysis, https://www.continuumforums.com/2024/cecforum Joo, S. (2024). A novel curriculum approach through integration of problem-based learning (PBL) into Capstone Project for sustainable design of plastics. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Journal of Chemical Education. Joo, S. (2024). Bioinspired nanomaterials for surface decontamination. Research & Development in Material Science, 20(4), 2437–2439. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.31031/RDMS.2024.20.000995. Joo, S. (2024). Environmental applications of graphene nanohybrids. , Joo, S. (2024). Nanomaterials for Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater. . , Joo, S., Kerns, J., Guimarae, L., Parker, Z., Goodrich, J., Halpin, N., Stec-Uddin, E. (2024). Optimum Design of Phosphorus Treatment Processes for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant. , Joo, S. (2024). Climate-Induced Pandemics in the Plastisphere. National Academy Science Letters https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1007/s40009-024-01439-8 . Joo, S. (2024). Disparity of the impacts of climatic hazards on urban and rural communities. Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environments. , Joo, S. (2024). Bio-based plastic polymers in a circular economy. , Joo, S. (2024). Innovative curriculum development on plastic pollution: Getting students excited with solving real-world problems. ASEE, Joo, S. (2024). Evaluating the Inequity Impact of Climate Change on Urban and Rural Communities. Prevention and Treatment of Natural Disasters, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.54963/ptnd.v3i1.241. Joo, S. (2024). Addressing climate change mitigation: Implications for the sustainable development of alternatives to plastics. Cambridge Prisms: Plastics DOI: 10.1017/PLC.2024.1. https://doi.org/10.1017/plc.2024.1. Joo, S. (2023). Antibiotic-resistant superbugs on nanomaterials and nanoplastics. , Choi, Y., Yun, H., Yi, S., Joo, S. (2023). The operation and service of the first Korean compact advanced satellite. European Geosciences Union (EGU). , Colson, M., Alvarez, L., Soto, S., Joo, S., Li, K., Lupini, A., Nawaz, K., Fomunung, I., Onyango, M., Danquah, M., Owino, J., Yang, S. (2022). A Novel Sustainable Process for Multilayer Graphene Synthesis Using CO2 from Ambient Air. Materials, 15894. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15175894. Kim, H., Joo, S., Verma, M., Lee, I. (2022). Abstracts of the 2nd International Symposium on Plastic Pollution. , DOI: https://doi.org/10.21467/abstracts.119 Lee, I., Joo, S., Kim, H. (2022). Application of μ-Raman spectroscopy for characterization and quantification of microplastics in a drinking water system. , Joo, S. (2022). Assessing the Effects of Emerging Plastics on the Environment and Public Health. (pp 441 pages). IGI-Global. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-9723-1 Antukh, T., Lee, I., Joo, S., Kim, H. (2022). Hydrogenotrophs-based biological biogas upgrading technologies. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10 https://doi.org/DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.833482. Joo, S., Kim, H. (2022). The effects of plastics on climate change: Implications for the sustainable development of Plastics. , Lee, I., Verma, M., Joo, S., Park, T., Park, J., Kim, H. (2022). The occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments in Hangang River. , Joo, S. (2022). Toxicity Assessment of Naohybrids. , Joo, S., Kim, H., Sang, B. (2021). Abstracts of the 1st International Symposium on Plastic Pollution [Removal, Analysis, and Risk Assessment of Microplastics]. . , DOI: https://doi.org/10.21467/abstracts Joo, S., Kim, H. (2021). Atmospheric transport and toxicity mechanisms of plastic particles. , Lee, I., Oh, J., Joo, S., Kim, H. (2021). Characterization and analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics in water. , Sharma, S., Antukh, T., Joo, S., Kim, H. (2021). Characterization and analysis of nanoplastics in different types of water. , Joo, S., Kim, H. (2021). Enhanced in situ biodegradation of plastic polymers: Implications for the development of bioplastics. , Joo, S. (2021). Enhanced in situ biodegradation of plastic polymers: Implications for the development of bioplastics. In a book Recycling and Waste Management, Herald Meetings, LLC & Journal of Environmental Science: Current Research, https://doi.org/2643-5020 Joo, S., Choi, H. (2021). Field grand challenge with emerging superbugs and the novel coronavirus on plastics and in water. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering , 9(1), 104721. . Joo, S., Liang, Y., Kim, M., Byun, J., Choi, H. (2021). Microplastics with adsorbed contaminants: mechanisms and treatment. Environmental Challenges , 3C00042. .