Jiale Xu

Jiale graduted from UB in spring of 2020 with a PhD in Environemntal Engineering. He was a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Arizona, and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Where are you from?

I am from Shandong, China.

Why did you choose UB?   

UB is one of the most welcoming universities to international students, and I like the inclusive research environment at UB. Additionally, my advisor at UB was working on state-of-the-art projects for wastewater recycling, which attracted me very much. Hence, I believed that I could grow and learn while conducting advanced research at UB.

Why did you choose to go into environmental engineering?

My hometown was struggling with water pollution problems at rivers and lakes, which threatened people’s health. At that time, efficient and low-cost technologies were not available to solve environmental issues. So, I was determined to develop advanced and cheap technologies for water/wastewater treatment to protect human health and our environment.

What did you like most about engineering at UB?

The engineering school at UB has many interdisciplinary projects that I could participate in and learn from experts in different fields, which benefited my research work.

Was there a memorable lecture, professor, or moment from your UB experience that stuck with you and helped shape your future?

My PhD advisor, Dr. Ning Dai, stands out. She provided a lot of support that helped me become what I am now. She always generously gave valuable advice and encouraged me to overcome challenges in research and life. 

What clubs or organizations were you a part of during your time at UB?

I am one of the founders of the graduate student chapter of the Environmental and Water Resource Institute in our program. Throughout the three years, I organized several activities to serve the students on planning for their future career and personal life.

What is your current role?

My research project at the University of Arizona focuses on developing electrochemical technologies to treat and reuse fracturing flowback wastewater from the oil and gas industry.

What have you done that you are most proud of? 

What I am most proud of is that I have never given up on my dream to become a researcher even in the face of so many challenges. 

Do you have any advice for prospective or current engineering students?

UB has a lot of supportive resources that are beneficial to current students to shape their future career. Students should start planning their future early and take full advantage of every opportunity at UB.