Simeng Li

Simeng Li

Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering, College of Engineering

Education

Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Florida State University 

M.Eng., Civil Engineering, Florida State University 

B.Eng., Environmental Engineering, Ocean University of China

 

Biography

Dr. Simeng Li is a dedicated member of the Department of Civil Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona, where he has served as an Assistant Professor since 2019. His academic and research interests are firmly rooted in the fields of environmental and water resources engineering, driven by a profound commitment to sustainability and environmental enhancement.

 

During his tenure at Cal Poly Pomona, Dr. Li has had the privilege of instructing a wide array of courses catering to both undergraduate and graduate students. His genuine passion for fostering academic growth is further exemplified by his successful cultivation of a research program that consistently provides valuable experiential learning opportunities to aspiring undergraduates and graduates.

 

Dr. Li, alongside his enthusiastic students, has made significant contributions to the academic community. Their collaborative efforts have resulted in continuous publications in prestigious technical journals, and they have shared their findings at esteemed national conferences.

 

In addition to his instructional and research endeavors, Dr. Li has actively participated in enhancing the academic landscape. He has taken on roles as a Guest Editor for Sustainability, Journal of Carbon Research, and Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 

 

Faculty Webpage

(Faculty Webpage)

Teaching

Undergraduate Courses:
CE 2061 Fluid Mechanics
CE 3201 Environmental Engineering
CE 3201L Environmental Engineering Laboratory
CE 3211 Water Resources Engineering
CE 4211 Applied Hydrology
CE 4241 Environmental Remediation
CE 4830 Project Design Principles and Applications
Graduate Courses:
CE 5230 Bioresources and Bioenergy Recovery
CE 5241 Environmental Remediation
CE 5260 Advanced Wastewater Treatment

Selected Publications

Journal Articles (* denotes corresponding author):

  1. Li, S.*, Galoustian, T., Trejo, H. (2023) Biochar pyrolyzed with concentrated solar radiation for enhanced nitrate adsorption. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 174, 106131.
  2. Li, S.*, Tasnady, D. (2023) Biochar for soil carbon sequestration: Current knowledge, mechanisms, and future perspectives. Journal of Carbon Research, 9(3), 67.
  3. Li, S.*, Skelly, S. (2023) Physicochemical properties and applications of biochars derived from municipal solid waste: A review. Environmental Advances, 13, 100395.
  4. Li, S.*, Hernandez, S., Salazar, N. (2023) Biopolymer-based hydrogels for harvesting water from humid air: A review. Sustainability, 15(1), 848.
  5. Li, S.*, Chan, C. (2022) Will biochar suppress or stimulate greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural fields? Unveiling the dice game through data syntheses. Soil Systems, 6(4), 73.
  6. Trejo, H., Lopez, A., Vargas, J., Li, S. (2022) Engaging students with a US sheep and wool course-based undergraduate research experience at a Hispanic-Serving Institution. International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings, 78(1).
  7. Brickler, C., Wu, Y., Li, S.*, Anandhi, A., Chen, G. (2021) Comparing physicochemical properties and sorption behaviors of pyrolysis-derived and microwave-mediated biochar. Sustainability, 13(4), 2359. DOI: 10.3390/su13042359.
  8. Wu, Y., Trejo, H., Chen, G., Li, S.* (2021) Phytoremediation of contaminants of emerging concern from soil with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): A review. Environment, Development and Sustainability. DOI: 10.1007/s10668-021-01289-0.
  9. Wu, Y., Li, S.*, Chen, G. (2021) Impacts of mechanical and chemical factors on water-holding capacity of polyacrylamide in sandy soils: Models and mechanisms. Soil Research, DOI: 10.1071/SR20200.
  10. Makhtoumi, Y.*, Li, S., Ibeanusi, V., Chen, G. (2020) Evaluating water balance variables under land use and climate projections in the Upper Choctawhatchee River Watershed in Southeast US. Water, 12(8), 2205. DOI: 10.3390/w12082205.
  11. Li, S.*, Duran, K., Delagah, S., Mouawad, J., Jia, X., Sharbatmaleki, M., Energy efficiency of staged reverse osmosis (RO) and closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) desalination: A model-based comparison. Water Supply. DOI: 10.2166/ws.2020.208.
  12. Li, S.*, Chan, C., Sharbatmaleki, M., Trejo, H., Delagah, S. (2020) Engineered biochar production and its potential benefits in a closed-loop water-reuse agriculture system. Water, 12(10), 2847. DOI: 10.3390/w12102847.
  13. Wu, Y., Brickler, C., Li, S.*, Chen, G. (2020) Synthesis of microwave-mediated biochar-hydrogel composites for enhanced water absorbency and nitrogen release. Polymer Testing, 93, 106996. DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2020.106996.
  14. Huang, J., Xu, Q.*, Wang, X., Ji, H., Sharbatmaleki, M., Li, S., Jia, X., Sun, B., Yang, X., Li, C. (2020) Effects of hydrological and climatic variables on Cyanobacteria blooms in four large shallow lakes fed by Yangtze River. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 5, 100069. DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2020.100069.
  15. Wu, Y., Li, S. *, Chen, G. (2020) Impact of humic acids on phosphorus retention and transport. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 20, 2431-2439. DOI: 10.1007/s42729-020-00308-9.
  16. Li, S., Wu, Z., Wu, Z., Liu, G.* (2020) Enhancing fiber recovery from wastewater may require toilet paper redesign. Journal of Cleaner Production, 261, 121138. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121138.
  17. Li, S.*, Chen, G. (2020) Effectiveness of dicyandiamide as a nitrification inhibitor in biochar- amended soil. Pedosphere, 30(3), 352-362. DOI: 10.1016/S1002-0160(20)60014-5.
  18. Li, S.*, Chen, G. (2020) Agricultural waste-derived superabsorbent hydrogels: Preparation, performance and socioeconomic impacts. Journal of Cleaner Production, 251, 119669. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119669.
  19. Li, S.*, Li, R., Tang, Y., Chen, G. (2019) Microwave-induced heavy metal removal from dewatered biosolids for cost-effective composting. Journal of Cleaner Production, 241, 118342. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118342.
  20. Li, R., Zhang, Z., Li, S., Tang, Y., Wei, C., Chen, G.* (2019) Cadmium-bacteria complexation and subsequent bacteria-facilitated cadmium transport in saturated porous media. Journal of Environmental Quality, 48(5), 1524-1533. DOI: 10.2134/jeq2018.10.0369.
  21. Li, S.*, Harris, S., Anandhi, A., Chen, G. (2019) Predicting biochar properties and functions based on feedstock and pyrolysis temperature: A review and data syntheses. Journal of Cleaner Production, 215, 890-902. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.106.
  22. Li, S., Wu, Z., Liu, G.* (2019) Degradation kinetics of toilet paper fiber during wastewater treatment: Effects of retention time and microbial community. Chemosphere, 225, 915-926. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.03.097.
  23. Li, S.*, Chen, G. (2019) Contemporary strategies for enhancing nitrogen retention and mitigating nitrous oxide emission in agricultural soils: present and future. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 22(4), 2703-2741. DOI: 10.1007/s10668-019-00327-2.

Book/Chapters:

  1. Li, S., Liu, C. (2022). Use of Selenium Accumulators and Hyperaccumulators in Se-Phytoremediation Technologies: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives. In: Hossain, M.A., Ahammed, G.J., Kolbert, Z., El-Ramady, H., Islam, T., Schiavon, M. (eds) Selenium and Nano-Selenium in Environmental Stress Management and Crop Quality Improvement, pp 365-381. Springer.
  2. Li, S. (2022) Phytoremediation of Pesticides in Soil. In: P. Sharma, A. Pandey, Tong, Y.W., Ngo, H.H. (eds) Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering, pp 291-312. Elsevier.