Jessica Ray
Biography
Education
- Ph.D. in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2015
- M.S. in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2010
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2009
Previous appointments
- Miller Institute for Basic Research, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley, 2015-2018
Research Statement
Ray is developing, characterizing and applying new composite materials for selective contaminant removal in water, for enhanced degradation of persistent contaminants, and for recovery of valuable species in waste streams. We explore structure-function relationships and survey physicochemical properties during synthesis and application of novel composites to understand their capabilities under conditions representative of real water sources and waste streams. Currently, our group is creating low-cost, engineered media to remove and/or degrade contaminants in urban stormwater. We are also generating functionalized composite materials to target and destroy persistent organic compounds such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Ray is committed to nurturing an inclusive, diverse and anti-racist environment within her research group and within the department. Ray served on the department Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion faculty committee from 2019 - 2021 and worked with colleagues to institute the first faculty diversity training. In 2020, Ray's group launched an anti-racism book club for group members to grow and learn together. So far, we have read books relating to environmental racism, race relations in contemporary America, and color-blind racism. Currently, Ray is collaborating with Black, Environmental Engineering assistant professors across multiple institutions to create a guidance framework for Environmental Engineering departments to support and retain Black faculty.
Select publications
- Katya Cherukumilli, Max Steiner and Jessica R. Ray, “Effective fluoride Removal using granular bauxite filter media as an affordable and sustainable alternative to activated alumina” Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00033K
- Jessica M. Steigerwald and Jessica R. Ray, “Adsorption behavior of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) onto activated spent coffee grounds in synthetic wastewater effluent” Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 2021, 2, 100025-100032, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazl.2021.100025
- Fanny Okaikue-Woodi, Katya Cherukumilli and Jessica R. Ray , “A critical review of contaminant removal by conventional and emerging media for urban stormwater treatment” Water Research, 2020 , 187, 116434-116455, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116434
- Jessica R. Ray, Xuanhao Wu, Chelsea W. Neil, Haesung Jung, Zhichao Li and Young-shin Jun, “Redox Chemistry of CeO2 Nanoparticles in Aquatic Systems Containing Cr(VI)(aq) and Fe2+ Ions,” Environmental Science: Nano,2019, 6, 2269-2280. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/en/c9en00201d
- Jessica R. Ray, Itamar A. Shabtai, Marc Teixidó, Yael G. Mishael, and David L. Sedlak, “Polymer-Clay Composite Geomedia for Sorptive Removal of Trace Organic Compounds and Metals in Urban Stormwater,” Water Research, 2019, 157, 454-62. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135419302982
- Jessica R. Ray, Whitney Wong, and Young-Shin Jun, “Antiscaling Efficiency of CaCO3 and CaSO4 on Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)-modified Reverse Osmosis Membranes in the Presence of Humic Acid: Interplay of Membrane Surface Properties and Water Chemistry,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2017, 19 (7), 5647-5657. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28168252
- Jessica R. Ray,† Sirimuvva Tadepalli,† Saide Z. Nergiz, Keng-Ku Liu, Le You, Yinjie Tang, Srikanth Singamaneni, and Young-Shin Jun, “Hydrophilic, Bactericidal Nanoheater-Enabled Reverse Osmosis Membranes to Improve Fouling Resistance,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2015, 7 (21), 11117-11126. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/am509174j
- Xuyang Liu,† Jessica R. Ray,† Chelsea W. Neil,† Qingyun Li, and Young-Shin Jun, “Enhanced Colloidal Stability of CeO2 Nanoparticles by Ferrous Ions: Adsorption, Redox Reaction, and Surface Precipitation,” Environmental Science & Technology, 2015, 49 (9), 5476-5483. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b07732
- Jessica R. Ray, Wei Wan, Benjamin Gilbert, and Young-Shin Jun, “Effects of Formation Conditions on the Physicochemical Properties, Aggregation, and Phase Transformation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles,” Langmuir, 2013, 29 (4), 1069-1076. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/la3034319
- Jessica R. Ray, Byeongdu Lee, Jonas Baltrusaitis, and Young-Shin Jun, “Formation of Iron(III) Hydroxides on Polyaspartate- and Alginate-Coated SiO2: Effects of Substrate Hydrophilicity and Functional Groups at the Surface,” Environmental Science & Technology, 2012, 46 (24), 13167-13175. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23153372
Honors & awards
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award, 2021
- College of Engineering Rogel Faculty Support Award, 2020
- Chemical & Engineering News Class of 2020 Talented 12, 2020
- Royalty Research Fund: University of Washington, 2019
- Miller Institute for Basic Research Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of California Berkeley, 2015
- Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Graduate Fellowship: Environmental Protection Agency, 2012
- GK-12 Fellowship: National Science Foundation, 2009
- National Society of Black Engineers
- Society of Women Engineers
- Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors
- American Chemical Society