Zhi (George) Zhou, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, ENV SP
I am an associate professor of Civil and Construction Engineering (CCE) and Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering (SEE) at Purdue University. My research focuses on wastewater treatment, water reuse, water quality, and environmental biotechnologies. My recent projects include AI-driven wastewater treatment, cost-effective biofuels, PFAS, electrochemical filtration, and indirect and direct potable reuse. Currently I teach courses on wastewater treatment processes, environmental biotechnology, and design principles and practice of drinking water systems. I was previously an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore and a consulting engineer at Carollo Engineers at California. I am a licensed Professional Engineer (Civil Engineer) in California, a Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE), and an Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP).
Professional Experience
2020 – present, Associate Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering and Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2014 – 2020, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering and Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2017, Visiting Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
2010 – 2014, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
2007 – 2010, Consulting Engineer, Carollo Engineers, Walnut Creek, CA
2006 – 2007, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
2002 – 2007, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
2004, Visiting Student, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Groupe ENSIC, Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés, Université de Lorraine, Nancy cedex, France
Education
2007, Ph.D., Environmental Science in Civil Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
2002, M.S., Environmental Science, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China
1999, B.S., Environmental Science, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China
Professional Certifications
2018 – present, Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP), Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure
2017 – present, Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE), American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists
2010 – present, Professional Engineer (PE) in Civil Engineering, California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, CA
2010, Certificate, ABET workshop on “Developing Sustainable Program Assessment Processes” by Dr. Gloria Rogers, MD-Professional Services, ABET, Inc.
2003 – 2006, Certified Livestock Manager, Illinois Department of Agriculture, IL
Honors and Awards
07/2025, Outstanding Achievement Award from the Indiana Water Resources Association for Indiana Statewide PFAS Assessment
06/2025, Top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide recognized by Scholar GPS
08/2025, Outstanding Engineering Teachers, College of Engineering, Purdue University
12/2024, Outstanding Engineering Teachers, College of Engineering, Purdue University
12/2023, Outstanding Engineering Teachers, College of Engineering, Purdue University
12/2023, Most Impactful Faculty Inventors, Purdue University
11/2023, Seed for Success Acorn Award, Purdue University
03/2023, Long Service Award, PLOS ONE editorial board
06/2021, Outstanding Engineering Teachers, College of Engineering, Purdue University
04/2019, Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Environmental and Ecological Engineering Graduate Students, Purdue University
11/2018, Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing of journal Renewable Energy
10/2018, Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing of journal Environmental International
04/2018, Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing of journal Bioresource Technology
02/2018, Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing of journal Science of the Total Environment
07/2017, Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing of journal Chemical Engineering Journal
01/2010, Certificate of Appreciation, Chinese American Environmental Professionals Association, Oakland, CA
05/2007, Graduate College Conference Travel Award, UIUC
05/2007, Racheff Graduate Student Travel Award, UIUC
05/2006, Racheff Graduate Student Travel Award, UIUC
06/2005, Natural Science Progress Award (second prize), Nanjing, China
05/2005, Racheff Graduate Student Travel Fund Award, UIUC
05/2004, American Society for Microbiology Travel Grant
08/2002, University Fellowship, UIUC
08/2002, John W. Page Fellowship, UIUC
06/2001, Excellence Fellowship, Nanjing University
Honors and Awards as Faculty Advisor
08/2024, Second place poster presentation prize for Hongji Su (Ph.D. student) at the annual meeting of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) When Blue is Green (BiG) project
08/2024, Third place poster presentation prize for Wanyue Hui (Ph.D. student) at the annual meeting of the USDA BiG project
03/2024, National finalist of the EnergyTechUp Competition held by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) for Team Carbonbusters for Sharon Hughes (Ph.D. alumna) and Amanda Lopez (Ph.D. student), Nathaniel Bone (M.S. student), and Neha Shakelly, Purdue University
04/2023, New Venture Challenge Audience Choice Award for Sharon Hughes (Ph.D. alumna) and Amanda Lopez (Ph.D. student) in the Purdue Innovates Startup Expo
04/2023, Champion in the Great Lakes region and Technology Bonus Prize semifinalist for the category of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management for the EnergyTechUp competition held by DOE for Team Carbonbusters for Sharon Hughes (Ph.D. student) and Amanda Lopez (Ph.D. student), and Neha Shakelly, Purdue University
02/2022, Technology Bonus Prize semifinalist for the category of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management in the Great Lakes region for the EnergyTech University Prize competition held by DOE for Team Carbonbusters led for Sharon Hughes (Ph.D. student), Purdue University
05/2018, Best poster award in 39th Annual Indiana Water Resources Association Symposium for Zhe Sun (Ph.D. student), Purdue University
06/2012, Excellence Award of Environmental Science and Engineering Poster Symposium for Yuanyan Du (senior undergraduate student), NUS
06/2012, Merit Award of Environmental Science and Engineering Poster Symposium for Chenghui Lin (senior undergraduate student), NUS
08/2011, President’s Graduate Fellowship for Xinzhu Yi (Ph.D. student), NUS
Journal Editor and Editorial Board
2025–present, Associate Editor, Journal of Environmental Engineering
2022–present, Review Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology – Microbiotechnology
2021–present, Editorial Board Member, International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation
2019, Handling Editor, Special issue of “Environmental Plastics” for journal PLOS ONE
2012–present, Academic Editor, PLOS ONE
Professional Affiliations
2026–present, Member American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2026–present, Member American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
2026–present, Member American Water Works Association (AWWA)
2026–present, Member Water Environment Federation (WEF)
2011–present, Member American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
2011–present, Member Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)
2004–present, Member American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
2016–2018, Communication Officer The Overseas Chinese Society for Microbiology (Sino-Micro)
2012–2014, Member BioEnergy Society of Singapore (BESS)
2011–2016, Member International Water Association (IWA)
2008–2010, Member AWWA
2007–2010, Board Director / Membership Chair Chinese American Environmental Professionals Association (CAEPA)
2007–2010, Member WEF