Sessions and Chairs

Conference Chairs:

Dr. Xing Xie (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Dr. Tonoy Das (Texas A&M University-Kingsville)

Dr. Xing Xie is a Carlton S. Wilder Associate Professor and the Environmental Engineering Group Leader in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Georgia Tech, he was a postdoc at Caltech. Dr. Xie received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Environmental Science & Engineering from Tsinghua. He received his second M.S. degree in Materials Science & Engineering and Ph.D. degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Stanford. Dr. Xie’s research interests center around the applications of environmental biotechnology and materials science at the nexus of water, food, energy, and health. He has worked on many projects related to water treatment and reuse, pollutant detection and quantification, and energy and resource recovery. Dr. Xie has received CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation (2019), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization Emerging Investigator Award (2020), and Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from American Society of Civil Engineers (2024). He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in Georgia.

Dr. Das's research centers on understanding interfacial reactions across various scales utilizing spectroscopy, microscopy, and experimental methodologies. He is interested in developing nanoscale materials for water treatment and resource recovery (precious metals and nutrients). His recent work focuses on the fate and transport of PFAS and microplastics in estuarine systems. Prior to his appointment at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMU-K), he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Das earned his Ph.D. from North Dakota State University, working on graphene-iron nanomaterials for trace metal remediation.

Sessions

Tribute to NEWT

Session Chairs: Dr. Qilin Li (Rice University), Dr. Francois Perreault (Université du Québec à Montréal), Dr. Sergi Garcia-Segura (Arizona State University), and Dr. Yiming Liu (Rice University)

Nano Energy and Decarbonization

Session Chairs: Dr. Leslie Abdul-Aziz (University of Southern California) and Dr. Fudong Liu (University of California, Riverside)

This session explores the role of nanotechnology in advancing sustainable energy solutions that contribute to energy conversion and decarbonization. Emphasis will be placed on research and innovation that leverage nanomaterials and nanoscale processes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and enable clean energy generation and storage. Topics include but are not limited to nanocatalysts for CO2/CH4/N2O/HFCs conversion, nano-enabled materials for hydrogen production, advanced batteries and supercapacitors, and sustainable manufacturing pathways.

Sources, fate, and effects of nano/microplastics

Session Chairs: Dr. Adeyemi Adeleye (Columbia University), Dr. Yiming Su (Utah State University), Dr. Boya Xiong (University of Minnesota)

Nano/microplastics are either intentionally manufactured or formed through the physical, chemical, or biological breakdown of larger plastic materials. These particles are found in all environmental matrices—including air, water, and soil—as well as in food and human tissues. It is estimated that each person ingests or inhales between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles annually. Although the full extent of their impacts is still under investigation, growing evidence suggests nano/microplastics pose significant risks to both human and ecological health. Regulations are needed to limit their environmental release and reduce the exposure of sensitive biological receptors. However, the scientific data required to support such regulations remains incomplete. This session will highlight the latest advances in nano/microplastics research, with a focus on sustainability, fate and effects, and the development of sound policy frameworks. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, novel extraction and quantification techniques, sensing, interfacial reactions and transformation mechanisms, release pathways under realistic conditions, fate and transport in environmental, biological, and agricultural systems, toxicity, risk assessment analysis, recovery and valorization strategies, and policy and governance.


NanoEducation, Outreach, and Workforce Development

Session Chair: Deb Newberry, Newberry Technology Associates

Welcome are presentations and discussions of current challenges and approaches as well as proposed new ideas and activities for nanotechnology based educational content and courses. Examples of nano content relating to the traditional disciplines and infusion into curriculum are valuable to educators at all levels. Experiences relating to outreach and societal aspects are encouraged. Of special interest this year is the presentation of industry requirements as they relate to student outcomes, nanotechnology knowledge and skills, and sustainability. This aspect is critical for creating a future sustainability savvy workforce.


Nanomedicine

Session Chair: Dr. Sudipta Seal (University of Central Florida), Dr. Mohiuddin Quadir (University of Central Florida)

Nanomedicine leverages the unique properties of materials engineered at the nanoscale to enable more precise diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, and controlled-release therapies. This session will highlight essential design principles for nanoparticles, address safety and regulatory considerations, and present case studies of successful clinical translation. Participants will gain practical insights into managing preclinical testing, scaling up challenges, and navigating the path to market approval, emphasizing the interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, biologists, engineers, and clinicians necessary to foster innovation. Additionally, the session will cover the development of nanomedicines and their pharmaceutical and medical uses, focusing on the safe integration of these materials into clinical practice. It will also highlight studies involving nanoscale processes in human and animal systems related to nanomaterial applications.


NanoPolymers

Session Chairs: Dr. Zheng Chen, University of California, San Diego; Dr. Wenjie Xia, Iowa State University; Dr. Zhaoxu Meng, Clemson University

Nanoscale polymeric materials such as polysaccharides and cellulose, lipids, poly peptides poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), polylactide (PLA), and others are described as safe alternatives to engineered nanomaterials used in a wide range of applications. This session will highlight the latest advances in understanding the interactions between biological (e.g. cells/organisms/ecological components) and chemical (organic and inorganics) species and sustainable polymeric materials. Talks will cover themes related to biological effects of naturally derived and synthetic polymeric nanoparticles, novel applications of such nanomaterials for medicine, agriculture, the food industry, biotechnology, energy, structure/infrastructure, environmental remediation and water treatment. Possible risks associated with polymeric nanomaterials being in the environment and food chain will be also discussed.


Safety and Sustainability of Nano-Based Applications

Session Chairs: Dr. Olga Tsyusko (University of Kentucky), Dr. Isabel Escobar (University of Kentucky), Dr. Nirupam Aich (University of Nebraska – Lincoln)

This session invites abstracts that examine potential health and environmental risks of nanomaterials of the existing nano-enabled technologies or incorporate elements of safe-and sustainable-by-design framework in the development of novel nano-based applications. Such environmental applications encompass various fields including agriculture, water remediation, energy conservation, and medicine. For example, in agriculture they allow to increase precision (sensors), enhance crop production (fertilizers), or improve pest management (pesticides) while applications for water and wastewater remediation target detection and degradation of organic and inorganic contaminants and pathogens. While these applications can be transformative, it is critical to assess potential risk of nanomaterials as well as other constituents of these products to the environment and human health. The talks will cover conventional in-vitro and in-vivo assessments as well as computational and modeling in-silico approaches to enhance understanding of bio-nano interactions and predict potential hazards of nano-based applications. Sustainable approach to the design of novel applications can be reflected by selecting more natural “green” materials or materials that do not persist and accumulate in the environments or utilizing methods to minimize release of the nanomaterials from the products via immobilization or post-application removal.


AI and Machine Learning in Nanotechnology: Enabling Smarter Solutions for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability Challenges

Session Chairs: Dr. Nirupam Aich (University of Nebraska – Lincoln), Dr. Huiyuan Guo (Binghamton University)

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing the way we design, understand, and apply nanomaterials across energy, environmental, and sustainability domains. This session will explore cutting-edge research at the intersection of AI/ML and nanotechnology. Topics will include, but are not limited to, the following：

  • Applications of AI/ML in water treatment and pollutant removal using nanomaterials.
  • Risk assessment and safety prediction of nanomaterials using AI.
  • Data-driven optimization of nanosensors for environmental monitoring.
  • AI-driven nanomaterial design for energy storage and conversion.
  • Integrative modeling approaches for sustainable nanotechnology development.
  • AI and ML for characterization and predictive modeling of nanomaterial properties.
  • ML-driven synthesis optimization of nanomaterials.

The session aims to foster dialogue among researchers applying AI/ML tools to accelerate discovery, enhance performance, and improve safety and scalability of nanotechnologies for environmental and health benefits. Primarily targeting attendees interested in advancing nanotechnology through data science, this session will feature interdisciplinary perspectives, practical case studies, and discussions on emerging opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving field.


NanoBioeconomy: Agriculture, Energy, Food, and the Allied

Session Chair: Dr. Christian Dimkpa (The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven), Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya (University of Arkansas, Little Rock)

Nanotechnology applications continue to add value to numerous aspects of human life. Several advances have been recorded in the specific area of nano-agriculture that can change how crop production and food systems are challenged by diverse factors, including climate, environment, biotic events, and human management. The session on nano bioeconomy covers a wide range of discussion topics from agriculture, energy, food, and their nexus with nanoscience and nanotechnology. Specific topics within the scope of the session includes materials for sustainable development of nano-enabled product, including fertilizers, pesticides, soil amendments, and sensors among others; advanced analytical tools for understanding nanomaterial interaction in soil-plant-food systems; agrochemical (nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides) pollution reduction using nanoscale strategies; mitigation of plant disease stress and pest infestations with nanomaterials; facilitating crop quality and yield; use of nano-scale sensors to predict, identify and mitigate external abiotic and biotic perturbations to agriculture and agroecosystems; and nanoscale strategies for food safety, including food preservation against post-harvest pathogens and pests and reduction of toxic element accumulation in plants. As the need for cleaner production systems continue to gain traction, the green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant and microbially derived molecules (enzymes and reductants) and their application in agriculture and the management of the environment have been brought to the fore. Topics here will explore the biogenic synthesis of nanomaterials and the nano-enablement of conventional materials using nanoscale biomaterials. The energy saving potentials of such green systems will also be discussed. Importantly, the regulatory aspects of nanotechnology application in agriculture and food systems, as well as the cost and benefit analysis of such nanoscale systems to meet some aspects of industry feasibility will be covered.


Poster Session

Session Chair: Dr. Illya Medina Velo (Houston Christian University) and Dr. Cyren Rico (Missouri State University)

Posters in all areas of sustainable nanotechnology are encouraged. The poster session will offer a unique opportunity to students, post-doctoral fellow, young and senior research to interact in an informal and relax setting.