Current Group Members

David Hanigan, PhD, PE
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Nevada, Reno
Phone: 775-682-7517

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Xuexiang He
Post-Doc

I am ​originally from China. I received my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Nanjing University, China and PhD in Environmental Engineering from University of Cincinnati, USA. I have conducted various postdoctoral researches at Southern Nevada Water Authority and Florida International University, and now at University of Nevada, Reno. My work has involved a diverse aspect of water treatment and reuse, such as coagulation/flocculation, adsorption, oxidation/reduction, and disinfection. I enjoy traveling, specifically driving and food.

Mingrui Song
Ph.D. Student

I come from China. I received my master's degree of environmental engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology, China and bachelors' from University of South China. My research interests are drinking water or wastewater treatment. I love mountain climbing and hiking.

Junli Wang
Ph.D. Student

I am from China and I received my master's degree of environmental engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology, China and bachelors' from Wuhan University, China in 2014. My research interest is identification & quantification of emerging contaminants by novel pretreatment methods. I enjoy cycling and swimming.

Kevin Stewart
M.S. Student

I’m originally from Dallas, Texas and attended the University of North Texas where I received bachelor’s degrees in ecology and chemistry. I am interested in environmental chemistry and my research at UNR focuses on disinfection byproduct formation during aquifer storage and recovery. I love hiking, trail running, biking, and getting out in the mountains and desert whenever I can!

Mike DeNicola
M.S. Student

I grew up in Houston Texas and Attended the University of Redlands in Southern California where I got my bachelors in environmental science and minored in chemistry.  Since then I have held a variety of jobs ranging from analytical chemistry to forest and rangeland ecological monitoring with organizations such as the University of California, US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.  My current research interests include water quality and contaminant fate and transport.  In my free time I enjoy mountain biking, fishing, dancing poorly, and exploring the outdoors.

Nico Yensen
M.S. Student

I am from Caldwell, Idaho, which is near Boise.  I graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. Biological Engineering and a B.S. Chemistry.  My research interests include, but are not limited to, drinking water and water quality.  When I am free, I enjoy games of any sort (board games, video games, lawn games), hiking/backpacking, soccer, and spending time with my friends and family.

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Prior Students and Post-docs

Ibrahim Abusallout
Post-Doc (2021)
Now with CDM-Smith

Priyamvada Sharma
Ph.D. (2021)

Utsav Thapa
Ph.D. (2021)
Currently a post-doc at SUNY-Buffalo

Libby McKenna
M.S. (2020)
Now with Corona Environmental Consulting

Saeed Arabi
M.S. ChemE (2020, Co-advised with Dr. Sage Hiibel)

Andrew Poustie
M.S. (2018)
Now with Stantec Engineering

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Prior Undergraduate Researchers

Aron Chan (2019-2021, BS EnvrE)
Jackson Alicata (2018-2019, BS ChemE)
Chelsea Cluff (2016-2017, BS CEE)