Minghao Kong

Background

About Minghao Kong

I am a dedicated environmental engineer and analytical chemist with over 10 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment technologies. My career is driven by a passion for advancing public health through innovative solutions that safeguard water resources. I have specialized in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), focusing on UV/Chlorine and UV/LED systems for the degradation of harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins and emerging contaminants such as PFAS. My expertise spans pilot-scale reactor design, kinetic modeling, and assessing disinfection byproducts to enhance drinking water safety. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at Emory University, I developed advanced analytical methods to detect and quantify contaminants in environmental and biological matrices using cutting-edge techniques like LC-MS and GC-MS. This work builds on my doctoral research, where I explored the oxidative degradation of cyanotoxins and devised remediation strategies to protect water systems. Some of my key achievements include-Winning the prestigious C. Ellen Gonter Environmental Chemistry Award, which recognized my high-quality research paper and contributions to the field of environmental chemistry. This competitive national award, given to only seven graduate students annually, includes an invitation to present at the American Chemical Society National Meeting-Publishing over 20 peer-reviewed articles, which have received more than 1,200 citations, underscoring my contributions to environmental engineering and public health. Developing validated SOPs and contributing to NSF- and NIH-funded projects, delivering impactful and actionable results-Proficiency in analytical method development, data analysis (Python, R, MATLAB), and quality assurance/control. I thrive in collaborative environments, bridging the gap between engineering, chemistry, and public health to address complex environmental challenges. I am passionate about leveraging my skills to develop sustainable solutions that protect communities and ecosystems. Let’s connect to explore how I can contribute to your network or organization’s success!