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Department Events

Events

• Oct

  25

  EES Seminar- Sublethal Bacterial Stress Exerted by Engineered Nanomaterials (ENMs) at Very Low Doses: Effects of Environmental Conditions- Shushan Wu

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Abstract: Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) can alter surface properties of cells and disturb cellular functions and gene expression through direct and indirect contact, exerting unintended impacts on human and ecological health. However, the effects of interactions among environmental factors, such as light, surrounding media, and ENM mixtures, on the mechanisms of ENM toxicity, especially at sublethal concentrations, are much less explored and understood. Recent studies have shown that nanoparticles can facilitate bacteriophage infection which contributes to transduction, an understudied yet crucial pathway of antibacterial gene transfer in bacteria. Therefore, we first evaluated cell viability and outer membrane permeability of E. coli as a function of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of ENMs, including metal (n-Ag) and metal oxide (n-TiO2, n-Al2O3, n-ZnO, n-CuO, and n-SiO2) nanoparticles under dark and simulated sunlight illumination in MOPS, a synthetic buffer, and Lake Michigan Water (LMW), a freshwater medium. Then we investigated the effects of photoactive ENMs on bacteriophage infection under sublethal concentrations and tried to unravel the mechanisms in gene expression associated with F-pili and membrane proteins. Our results reveal the significant sublethal bacterial stress exerted by ENMs and ENM mixtures at the cell surface in natural environments at low doses, which potentially affects cell susceptibility to toxicants and virus, such as phage infection and eventually causes unpredictable impacts on overall ecological health.

  Bio: Shushan Wu is a 6th year PhD student in Professor Kimberly Gray’s group. Her work unveils the sublethal bacterial stress exerted by engineered nanomaterials under environmental conditions using advanced biological techniques. Shushan graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in civil and environmental engineering before pursuing graduate studies at Northwestern University.

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  TIME Friday, October 25, 2024 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Nov

  1

  EES Seminar- Environmental Engineers Are the Circular Carbon Engineers- Jason Ren

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Abstract: Achieving carbon circularity and net zero emissions requires a comprehensive understanding of emissions and re-valorization of waste carbon, while keeping fossil carbon underground. Environmental engineers are uniquely positioned to lead sustainable carbon management as the “circular carbon engineers”. For example, modern wastewater treatment is evolving from “removal-centered” to a “recovery-oriented” approach, and the increasing availability of low-cost renewable electricity presents new opportunities to convert "electrons to molecules". This presentation will highlight recent efforts to address knowledge gaps in the complex GHG emission profiles of the wastewater sector, utilizing both field studies and data science methods. It will also discuss technologies for electrifying treatment processes, co-valorizing wastewater and CO2, performing electrolysis of impaired water, and producing commodity chemicals using electroactive membranes.

  Bio: Dr. Zhiyong Jason Ren (https://ren.princeton.edu) is a professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. He leads the Princeton Water & Energy Technologies (WET) Lab with research focusing on water sector decarbonization and digitalization. His group uses electrochemistry, microbiology, and data science tools to gain insights into the fundamental determining factors, and they develop models and technologies for resource recovery during environmental and chemical processes. Dr. Ren has received numerous recognitions including the Walter J. Weber, Jr. AEESP Frontier in Research Award (2024), the Paul L. Busch Award (2021), and Walter L. Huber Research Prize (2020). He is a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry and International Water Association. He is an Associate Editor for Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and ES&T Letters. Ren received his Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Penn State University.

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  TIME Friday, November 1, 2024 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Nov

  8

  EES Seminar- Microbial Community Engineering for Clean Water, Bioenergy Generation, and Resource Recovery- George Wells

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  TBA

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  TIME Friday, November 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Nov

  13

  Osterberg Lecture- Angelo Amorosi

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  TBA

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  TIME Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Nov

  15

  EES Seminar- Unraveling the Role of Biological and Mineral Catalysts in Natures Towards Innovating Sustainable Solutions- Ludmilla Aristilde

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  2:00 PM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  TBA

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  TIME Friday, November 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Dec

  4

  SPREE Seminar- Doug Jerolmack

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  11:00 AM 230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  TBA

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  TIME Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  LOCATION 230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Dec

  7

  Fall classes end

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Fall classes end

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  TIME Saturday, December 7, 2024

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  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Dec

  14

  Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Recognition Ceremony

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  4:00 PM Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

  EVENT DETAILS

  The ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 14 in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive.

  *No tickets required

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  TIME Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

  LOCATION Pick-Staiger Concert Hall    map it

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  CONTACT Andi Joppie    andi.joppie@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science