Research Mentor Information
---------------------------
Primary Research Mentor Name: Youneng Tang
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: He/him/his
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): ytang@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Headshot (optional): {Empty}

Additional Research Mentor(s)
-----------------------------
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): Mojtaba Nouri Goukeh
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: He/him/his
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: Mr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): mn20f@fsu.edu
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}

Overall Project Details
-----------------------
Title of the Project: PFAS Contamination and Transport
Project Keywords: Environmental Engineering, PFAS, Instrumentation, Analytical Chemistry, Solid Waste
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 1
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry

Project Location:: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: Yes
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: In-person
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 6 hours/week
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: During business hours
Overall Research Project Description:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that have attracted significant public attention due to their toxicity, widespread use in commercial and consumer products, and recalcitrance to degradation in the environment.  PFAS is ubiquitous in solid waste.  To prevent solid waste in landfills contaminating groundwater and air, landfills are usually contained by bottom liners and covers.  The objective of this project is to determine the PFAS transport characteristics through the bottom liners and covers such as the breakthrough time.  We welcome one UROP scholar to participate in this research project.  Professor Tang and his graduate student will supervise the UROP scholar.  The graduate student will provide most of the direct supervision.  

Research Tasks:
The UROP scholar is expected to:
1)	Complete a few lab safety training sessions.
2)	Shadow the graduate student.
3)	Review the literature to understand PFAS and their contamination.
4)	Learn the method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for measuring one type of PFAS.
5)	Use the measurement method to determine the PFAS transport characteristics in diffusion cells.
6)	Summarize and discuss the research results in a poster and a white paper. 

After the UROP project is completed, there may be an opportunity for the UROP scholar to further develop and optimize the method for measuring more types of PFAS through undergraduate or graduate research assistantship.  


Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
None.

Mentoring Philosophy:
Three themes of mentoring philosophies:
1) Believing quality is more important than quantity in terms of productivity for both the mentor and the mentee
2) Encouraging growth through challenges 
3) Developing a relationship founded on mutual respect


Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable):: https://eng.famu.fsu.edu/cee/people/tang
Please add any additional information here (if applicable)::
{Empty}


UROP Program Elements
---------------------
Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

{Empty}
Year: 2024
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=JUZ8HuySgxo_muTy6OsBC3LltlctVuXfCyqJNNTF37U