Huilian Ma
*** ***** ******, *** ** Salt Lake City Utah 84103 USA
*********@*******.*** +1-801-***-****
CHEMICAL ENGINEER / ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER / ANALYTICAL SCIENTIST / PROJECT
MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING / RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Research and development Scientific method Statistical analysis
Project management Numerical modeling Experimental design
Creative problem-solving Technical writing Detail-oriented
Computing Skills: Programming in FORTRAN, MATLAB and Shell scripting Experience in Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD), data visualization Experience with High Performance Computing, Message Passing
Interface (MPI) Modeling on UNIX/Linux platforms and Windows Proficient in Microsoft Office
Experimental Skills: Extensive experience in AFM, Evanescent Wave Light Scattering/Optical Trapping,
TIRF, Zeta Sizer, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), SEM Advanced knowledge in chromatography (GC and LC),
mass spectroscopy, flow field fractionation, X-ray diffraction Experience in cGMP compliance and ISO9000
Language Skills: Bilingual in English and Chinese Excellent written and oral communication
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant Professor 2012 – present
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2006 – 2011
Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Utah
Project Management: Headed multiple projects to investigate various factors that affect contaminant
transport and retention in groundwater & soil systems and to predict particle removal efficiency
Supervision, mentoring, teaching: Supervises graduate students to achieve research goals and obtain
their degrees. Taught course on Colloid Transport to students of diverse backgrounds.
Leadership, teamwork, collaboration: Leads a group of scientists from Univ. of Utah, USDA-ARS & Univ.
of California Santa Barbara to investigate the effect of particle surface heterogeneity and shape on
particle transport and retention.
Numerical modeling, experiment, teamwork: Developed a 3-D unit cell particle trajectory model to
reproduce filtration experiment results and to predict contaminant removal efficiency in groundwater &
soil systems. Implemented mass transfer and particle tracking algorithm.
Fluid dynamics, algorithm development, data management: Constructed computational meshes and
performed CFD simulations (using STAR-CD and STAR-ccm+) to solve for flow field in various models.
Developed strategies/algorithms to efficiently sort large data sets for speeding up trajectory simulations.
High performance computing, data visualization: Implemented MPI parallel computing to incorporate
collector surface heterogeneity and/or particle-particle interaction into modeling. Performed trajectory
simulations on high performance computing clusters. Participated in converting simulation data into
movies to spread scientific findings to audiences of various levels.
Experimental skills: Conducted TIRF & column experiments to visualize & infer particle retention
kinetics and dynamics. Characterized particle size, shape and charge with DLS, SEM and Zeta Sizer.
Involved in FFF and ICP-MS experiments for nanoparticle separation and characterization.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2005 – 2006
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
Project Management: Led a PPG Industries-sponsored project to determine the effect of metal oxide
coatings (primarily titanium dioxide but included other oxides) on glasses for bio-fouling reduction
evaluation.
Method development, experiment, data analysis: Performed bacterial batch adhesion experiments and
AFM force volume imaging tests using various metal oxide coatings and bacterial strains.
Leadership and teamwork: Coordinated with PPG technical staff and did quarterly presentations on
research progress and published a research article.
Graduate Student Research Fellow 1998 – 2004
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida
Project Management: Conducted research on attachment of biological particles to surfaces mediated by
macromolecular binding, a phenomenon occurring in processes like microbial adhesion, water filtration,
receptor-mediated cellular adhesion.
Model development, data analysis: Developed a kinetic model to predict the rate of particle attachment
based on parameters characterizing the physicochemical properties of interacting surfaces and solution
condition. Simplified complex mathematical calculations with MATLAB code.
Experimental validation, teamwork: Applied kinetic model analysis for receptor-mediated adhesion of S.
aureus to fibrinogen-coated surfaces and elucidated adhesion mechanisms using parallel plate flow
chamber experiments. Measured colloidal and/or receptor binding forces using optical trapping and
evanescent wave light scattering techniques.
Method/Technique development: Developed AFM as a means to probe rheological properties of
viscous or viscoelastic fluids (e.g., polymer solutions) based on thermal fluctuations of AFM cantilever.
Teaching: Served as teaching assistant for courses such as Separation and Mass Transfer Theory,
Process Design and Control.
Project execution and completion: Obtained both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering.
Assistant Senior Manager (Purchasing Department) 1997 – 1998
Process Engineer (Design Management Department) 1994 – 1997
Concord Oil & Petrochemicals Holdings (China) Limited, Ningbo, China
Project Management & Supervision: Responsible for overall management and supervision of all
purchasing activities; negotiation with equipment suppliers, bidders, contractors. Directed training
programs for newly recruited employees. Coordinated projects and work flow with other
departments in the company.
Process design, technical review: Participated in technical review of Front-End Engineering Design
(FEED) packages from worldwide process design institutes/companies.
Process control & assurance: Served as process control engineer for the refinery site landfill project.
Implemented process control and quality assurance according to Learned ISO9000 and ISO14000.
Field training: Field trained (for 2 months) in refining processes including crude oil distillation,
residue catalytic cracking, and sulfur recovery.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering 2004
University of Florida
M.S. in Chemical Engineering 2000
University of Florida
B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Polymer Materials 1994
Tsinghua University, Beijing
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Published 14 peer-reviewed articles (9 lead-author publications) in prestigious journals including Langmuir,
Environmental Science & Technology, Water Resources Research, Colloids and Surface B, Journal of
Theoretical Biology
Presented over 30 times at national and international conferences and seminars, such as ACS Colloids and
Surface Symposium, AIChE annual meeting, AGU Fall meeting
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY SERVICE
Served as reviewers for multiple journals including Environmental Science & Technology, Water
Research, Advances in Water Research, Environmental Pollution, Journal of Environmental Engineering
Professional affiliations with American Geophysical Union (AGU), American Institute of Chemical
Engineers (AIChE), American Chemical Society (ACS), American Filtration & Separation Society (AFS)
Co-convener for hydraulic session at AOGS-AGU (WPGM) Joint Assembly. Singapore, August 2012.
K-12 math tutoring and science fair judges
HONORS, AWARDS & CERTIFICATES
2011-2012 Certificate of Appreciation for ACS journal reviewers from ACS Publications
2011-2013 ACS PRF research grant award
2000-2004 University of Florida International Student Academic Achievement Award
1990-1994 Tsinghua University Outstanding Student Scholarships
In the process of obtaining Lean & Six Sigma and Professional Engineering certifications)