Environmental Scientist/Chemist

Shen Qu

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

**** ******* ******, ********** ** Iowa

Iowa City, IA 52240

Tel: 951-***-**** Email: ****-**@*****.***

Ph.D. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering seeks environmental chemist/scientist

position where my expertise on analytical skills and proficiency on solving environmental

problems can be effectively utilized

Professional experience and skills

Possess more than five (5) years of practical hands-on professional research experience regarding to

water chemistry, environmental organic Chemistry and fate of pharmaceuticals in natural environment

Individual development of experimental methods, sample preparation, reactor design, instrument

maintenance and data analysis and management

Proficiency in using and HPLC such as Agilent 1200 series and 1100 series with automated sample

preparation technique (ASE) and Chemstation operating software package

Advanced skills on separation, analysis and identification of organic molecules on Agilent 1100 series

HPLC followed by Agilent 6140 Quadrupole Mass spectrometry.

Extensive hands-on trouble-shooting skills for analytical instrumentation, e.g. HPLC, LC/MS, GC,

Shimadzu TOC-5050 Analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific Genesys 10S UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and

thermo scientific Nicolet iS10 IR spectrophotometer

Expertise in Ion Chromatography (IC), XRD, BET, ZetaPALs (zeta potential, particle size). SEM, TEM

Positive and steady character that would lead to the successful coordination with internal and external

team members

Excellent written, presentation, and professional communication skills

Skilled in IGOR pro scientific data analysis software, Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) 7.1,

Matlab, C programming and AutoCAD drafting

Professional Research and Teaching Experiences

Graduate Researcher, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa and

Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Univ. of California Riverside, 2008.7 – Present

Design reactors to study fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products during their

transportations in soil aquifer treatment system and established analytical methods for separation,

identification and characterization of those compounds

Perform thoroughly graduate research works on the fate, pathways, and removal of emerging

contaminants in natural environment and engineered systems

Explore the phototransformation pathways of synthetic hormones using solar simulator,

spectroradiometer and analytical instruments (e.g., HPLC, GC, LC/MS, LC/MS/MS)

Develop analytical methods for separation and identification of unknown transformation products

of organic molecules especially steroid hormones during photolysis using analytical instruments

including HPLC, LC/MS and TOC

Investigate sorption of synthetic hormones on soils and catalyzed hydrolysis and oxidation by

mineral oxides

Develope the methods on synthesizing nanoparticles (e.g. iron oxides and manganese oxide) and

trained on subsequently characterization using XRD, Zetapals, BET, SEM and TEM

Utilize postgraduate knowledge and professional skills such as experimental design,

implementation, feasibility assessment, trial testing, data analyzing, scientific and research paper

writing, presentations and illustrations to facilitate and expedite research projects

Supervise senior graduate students on reactor design,sample collection and method development

on HPLC

Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California,

Riverside, 2007.9 – 2008.7

Lead discussion in undergraduate course on project design using Matlab

Supervised senior graduate students in a senior design class on reactor design, sample analysis

and method development to remove nitrate and phosphorus in engineered system, especially

biological treatment using activated sludge

Engineer Scientist Intern, Shijiazhuang Chemical Fiber Co. Ltd. 2007.1 – 2007.7

Focused on the a novel research project of the removal of nitrate and phosphorus using activated

sludge which was subsequently removed by hollow fiber membrane.

Daily measurement on BOD, COD, TN, TP of the influent and effluent using standard method

with subsequent adjustment on parameters to achieve optimal removal

Accumulated industrial and first hand field experiences in a wastewater treatment plant and in an

affiliated wastewater research laboratory located near the local river system

Education

Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, GPA 4.0/4.0 2011.8-2012.12

Ph.D. candidate in Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, GPA 3.8/4.0,

2007.9-2011.8

B.S. in Environmental Engineering with honor, Beijing Jiaotong University, China, Major GPA 3.7/40. (87.6/100),

ranked Top 5, 2003-2007

Awards and Honors

Selected to receive Ellen Gonter Environmental Chemistry Graduate Student Paper Award, ACS, 2013. Invited to

present the paper in an award symposium at 2013 Fall ACS National Meeting in Indianapolis

Selected to receive Certificate of Merit Award due to high quality research work and presentation, ACS

242nd National Meeting, Division of Environmental Chemistry, Denver, Colorado, 2011

Selected to receive Outstanding Presentation Award for Senior Graduate Researchers, Chemical and

Environmental Engineering, Graduate Symposium, University of California, Riverside, 2010

Honored Graduate Assistantship Award, University of Iowa, 2010-2012

Honored Graduate Division Fellowship Award, University of California, 2007-2010

Selected to receive Outstanding Graduate Award, Beijing Jiaotong University 2007

Second Class Scholarship of Beijing Jiaotong University (twice, 2003-2005)

Professional Memberships

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)

Tau Beta Pi The Engineering Honor Society

Southern California Chinese American Environmental Protection Association (SCCAEPA)

Publications

S. Qu, E. P. Kolodziej and D.M. Cwiertny. Phototransformation Rates and Mechanisms for Synthetic Hormones

Growth Promoters Used in Animal Agriculture. Environmental Science and Technology, 2012, 46, 132**-*****

Kolodziej, Edward; Qu, Shen; Forsgren, Kristy; Long, Sarah; Gloer, James; Jones, Gerrad; Schlenk, Daniel;

Baltrusaitis, Jonas; Cwiertny, David. Photo- Identification and Environmental Implications of Photo-

Transformation Products of Trenbolone Acetate Metabolites. Environmental Science and Technology, impress,

2013

S. Qu and D. M. Cwiertny. Adsorption of Phenytoin and Carbamazepine on Metal Oxide Surfaces: Role of

Organic Coatings in Pharmaceutical Uptake in Soils. Submitted to Environmental Science: Processes and

Impacts.

S. Qu, E. P. Kolodziej, S. Whiteman, J. B. Gloer, D.M. Cwiertny. Product to Parent Reversion of Trenbolone:

Implications for Endocrine Disruption. In preparation for submission to Environmental Science and Technology.

S. Qu, E. P. Kolodziej and D. M. Cwiertny. Sorption and Mineral-Promoted Transformation Pathways of

Synthetic Hormone Growth Promoters in Soil Systems. In preparation for submission to Journal of Agricultural

and Food Chemistry.

K.L. Forsgren, S. Qu, D.M. Cwiertny, D. Schlenk. Trenbolone acetate metabolites may promote ovarian growth

in adult medaka. In preparation for submission.

Presentations

S. Qu, E. P. Kolodziej and D. M. Cwiertny. Environmental Fate of Synthetic Growth Promoters Used in Animal

Agriculture: Mechanistic Studies of Hormone Photolysis and Soil Processes in Natural Systems. Poster

presentation at Gordon Conference, Environmental Sciences: water, Holderness, NH, June 24-29, 2012

K.L. Forsgren, S. Qu, D.M. Cwiertny, D. Schlenk. Trenbolone acetate metabolites may promote ovarian growth

in adult medaka. Poster presentation at the SETAC American 32nd annual meeting, Boston, MA, Nov. 13-17,

2011.

S. Qu, E. Kolodziej, D. M. Cwiertny. Sorption and Mineral-Promoted Transformation Pathways of Synthetic

Growth Promoters in Soil Systems. Presented at the ACS 242nd National Meeting, Division of Environmental

Chemistry, Denver, Colorado, August 28 – September 1, 2011.

D. M. Cwiertny, E. P. Kolodziej and S. Qu. Environmental transformations of synthetic growth promoters used in

animal agriculture. Presented at the ACS 242nd National Meeting, Division of Environmental Chemistry, Denver,

Colorado, August 28 – September 1, 2011.

S. Qu, E. P. Kolodziej, D. M. Cwiertny. Phototransformation of Synthetic Growth Promoters Used in Animal

Agriculture: Implications for the Fate of Promoters and Metabolites in Surface Waters. Presented at the SETAC

American 31st annual meeting, Session of Pharmaceuticals: Fate and Transport, Portland, OR, Nov. 7-11, 2010.

S. Qu. and D.M. Cwiertny Adsorption of Effluent-Derived Anticonvulsants on Mineral Surfaces. Presented at the

6th International Water Association and Groundwater Resources Association of California Specialized

Conference on Assessment and Control of Micropollutants and Hazardous Substances in Water. San Francisco,

CA, June 8-10, 2009.

S. Qu. and D.M. Cwiertny Factors Controlling the Adsorption of Effluent-Derived Pharmaceuticals on Mineral

Surfaces. Presented at the 237th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Division of Environmental

Chemistry, Salt Lake City, UT, March 23-27, 2009. Symposium on Frontiers in Water Reuse: Detection,

Advanced Treatment and Environmental Fate of Contaminants of Emerging Concern.

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