Chenjiapingpual

Chen J. Paul

Adjunct Professor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Biography

Dr J. Paul Chen is an internationally recognized researcher, engineer and teacher in environmental and chemical engineering, with research and development spanning membrane technology, adsorption, microplastics, carbon sequestration, resource and energy recovery, heavy-metal remediation, ballast-water management, and exhaust-gas treatment. He has served as a PI or co-PI for over 20 government funded projects. Paul’s work ranges from basic research, set-up, and fabrication and operation of full-scale systems. He has trained over 90 PDFs and PhD / MSc students. He has authored over 250 research articles/book chapters, most of which are published in several prestigious journals, such as PNAS, Nature Water, Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, EST, Water Research, ACB, and Chemical Society Reviews with H-index of 82 and citation of over 26,500.

Dr Chen has been consistently recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists in the Stanford–Elsevier citation-based rankings since their inception. He authored one book published by CRC and has five edited books by CRC and Springer. He has 17 patents. He has served as an expert for the review of research proposals for over 20 funding agencies (e.g., USNSF, NRF and RGS). He is on the editorial boards of over 20 journals and publishers, including JCIS and CRC. He is in management committees of several prestigious professorial societies, such as Chair of the Nano and Water Specialist Group of the International Water Association (IWA), Vice Chair and a Congress Member of IChemE and an examiner for Chartered Engineer/Scientist of Engineering Council/Science Council.

He is a Chartered Engineer/Scientist, and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (FIChemE), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), a Fellow of the International Water Association (FIWA), and a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (FIMarEST). Dr Chen has received several prestigious research awards, including the IChemE Sustainable Technology Award, and has been invited to deliver keynote addresses at international conferences organized by JCIS and IWA.

Qualifications

  • Chartered Marine Engineer (CMarEng), Engineering Council, 2017
  • Chartered Chemical Engineer, Engineering Council, 2017
  • Chartered Scientist (CSci), Science Council, 2017
  • Chartered Engineer (CEng), Engineering Council, 2017
  • Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, 1997.
  • M.Eng. Environmental Engineering, Tsinghua University, China, 1990.
  • B.Eng. Chemical Engineering, National Hua Chiao University, China, 1988.
  • OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER, USA.

Career History

  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore – NUS (2022-present).
  • Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore – NUS (September 2007-present).
  • Associate Professor, Division of Environmental Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore – NUS (2006-September 2007).
  • Assistant Professor, Division of Environmental Science & Engineering (2004-2005), Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore – NUS (1998-2004).
  • Academic member, Graduate Program in Bioengineering, National University of Singapore -NUS (2002 to present).
  • Process Engineer, Shantou Wastewater Treatment Plant, Shantou, China (1991-1993).

Honours & Awards

2018 Fellow of Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) (1100671738)
2018 Fellow of International Water Association (FIWA)
2018 Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)
2017 Fellow of Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (FIMarEST)
2017 Fellow of Institute of Chemical Engineers (FIChemE)
2014 Sustainable Technology Award, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, IChemE Award 2014.
2006 Second Prize, Environmental Design Competition, United Arab Emirates
1999- Present Guest Professor, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
1997 Mr. Yuh-Jie Lee Scholarship, Sun Yat-Sen Culture and Education Foundation

Professional Activities

2022 – Present Inaugural Editor-in-Chief, Colloids and Surfaces C: Environmental Aspects
2022 – Present Professional Reviewer for Chartered Scientist, Science Council
2022 – Present Board member, IMarEST
2022 – Present Individual Case Procedure reviewer, Engineering Council
2021 – Present Vice Chair, IChemE Singapore
2020 – 2026 Member, IChemE Congress
2020 – Present Nomination Committee of IWA Fellows
2020 – Present Specialty Chief Editor, Frontiers in Chemical Engineering

Teaching Areas

  • Environmental Engineering 2 (ESE 5003)
  • Environmental Processes (ESE 2001l)
  • Water Pollution Control Technology (EV 5102)
  • Industrial Effluent Treatment (EV 3101)
  • Water Pollution: Impact, Treatment and Control Strategies (EV 3111)
  • Environmental Separation Processes (EV 3112)
  • Chemical Plant Safety and Reliability

Research Interests

  • Water and Wastewater Treatment.
  • Metal Waste treatment and Resource Recovery.
  • Electrochemical Technologies.
  • Water Quality Modeling.
  • Ballast Water Treatment.

Selected Publications – Books

  1. Wang, L.K., Wang, M., Hung, Y., Chen, J.P. “Control of Heavy Metals in the Environment”, Volume 1,  Advances in Industrial and Hazardous Wastes Treatment Series, CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, 2023.
  2. Wang, L.K., Wang, M., Hung, Y., Chen, J.P. “Control of Heavy Metals in the Environment”, Volume 2, Advances in Industrial and Hazardous Wastes Treatment Series, CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, 2023.
  3. Wang, L.K., Wang, M., Hung, Y., Chen, J.P. “Control of Heavy Metals in the Environment”, Volume 3, Advances in Industrial and Hazardous Wastes Treatment Series, CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, 2023.
  4. Chen, J.P. “Decontamination of Heavy Metals: Processes, Mechanisms, and Applications”, CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group, 2012. ISBN 9781439816677，December 18, 2013.
  5. Wang, L.K.P., Wang, M, Hung, Y., Shammas, N.K., Chen, J.P. “Handbook of Advanced Industrial and Hazardous Wastes Management,” CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group, 2017.
  6. Hung, Y.T., Wang, L.K.P., Wang, M.H.S., Shammas, N.K., Chen, J.P. “Waste Treatment in the Service and Utility Industries”, CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group, 2017.
  7. Chen, J.P., Wang, L.K.P., Wang, M.H., Hung, Y.T., and Shammas, N.K. “Remediation of Heavy Metals in the Environment,” CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group, 2016.
  8. Wang, L. K. P., Chen, J. P., Hung, Y. T. and Shammas, N. K. eds., “Membrane and Desalination Technologies”, Springer, 2011.
  9. Wang, L. K. P., Chen, J. P. Hung, Y. T. and Shammas, N. K. eds., “Heavy Metals in the Environment”, CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group, 2009.

Selected Publications – Journal papers

  1. Liu, C.; Li, J.; He, X.; Yue, J.; Chen, M.; Chen, J. P.* The “4 + 1” strategy fabrication of iron single-atom catalysts with selective high-valent iron-oxo species generation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2024, 121 (23), e2322283121.
  2. Chen, M.; Chen, J. P.* Achieving cycling catalysis of electro-Fenton treatment. Nature Water 2024, 2 (8), 702–703.
  3. Qu, W.; Jin, T.; Huang, K.; Zhou, X.; Wang, Y.; Tang, Z.; Chen, J. P.* Metal-organic frameworks-driven atomic precision in advanced oxidation for pollution control. Advanced Materials 2025, e12877, doi: 10.1002/adma.202512877.
  4. Jin, T., Xu, J., Huang, K., Qu, W., Tang, Z., Chen, M., Balasubramanian, R., Chen, J.P.*, “Phase-Regulated Interfacial Polarization in High-Entropy Materials Enhances Fenton-Like Oxidation and Self-Induced Coagulation for Environmental Remediation”, Advanced Functional Materials, doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202520146, 2025.
  5. Ma, J., Chen, M., Wang, L., Fan, Y., Wang, Y., Chen, J.P.* “Synergistic Micro/Nano-Bioactive Contaminants and Recalcitrant Associated Products Removal Enabled by Hierarchical Porous Platforms Integrating Physical Sieving and Chemical Degradation”, Advanced Functional Materials, 1002/adfm.202523882, 2025.
  6. Zhu, M., Yang, J., Zheng, Y., Chen, J.P.* “Encapsulating asymmetrically coordinated Co single-atoms and clusters in millimetric ZSM-5 for short-pathway Fenton-like catalysis,” Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, Volume 391, 126625, 2026.
  7. Zhu, M.; Yang, J.; Chen, M.; Ao, Z.; Zheng, Y.; Chen, J. P.* Surface-adsorbed atom oxygen triggers nonradical formation via selective peroxymonosulfate decomposition by monolithic high-spin Co single-atom sites catalysts. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy， 371, 125207，
  8. Wen, H., Liu, Z., Chen, J., Chen, J.P.*, “Azetidinium-Regulated Interfacial Polymerization for Highly Permeable Nanofiltration Membranes with Enhanced Anion Sieving and Micropollutant Removal”, Journal of Membrane Sciences, 125585, 28April, 2026.
  9. Ma, H., Liu, Z., Ma, S., Wen, H., Chen, J.P.*, “Amikacin-modified high-performance polyamide nanofiltration membrane for efficient anion-selective separation”, Journal of Membrane Sciences, 125581, 25 April 2026.
  10. Wen, H., Liu, Z., Qu, W., Chen, J.P.* “Highly Permeable and Ultra-Selective Polyamide Nanofiltration Membrane with Nanoconfined LDH-Embedded Composite Structure for Enhanced Water Purification”, Journal of Membrane Sciences, 746, 125307, 2026.
  11. Wen, H.; Liu, Z.; Lu, Z.; Yang, Y.; Chen, J. P.* High-performance PEI-based nanofiltration membrane by MXene-regulated interfacial polymerization reaction: Design, fabrication and testing. Journal of Membrane Science 2025, 717, 123568.
  12. He, J.; Fu, X.; Ni, F.; Yang, G.; Deng, S.; Chen, J. P.*; Shen, F. Quantitative assessment of interactions of hydrophilic organic contaminants with microplastics in natural water environment. Water Research 2022, 224, 119024.
  13. Chen, M.; Chen, Z.; Wu, P.; Chen, J. P.* Simultaneous oxidation and removal of arsenite by Fe(III)/CaO2 Fenton-like technology. Water Research 2021, 201, 117312.
  14. Chen, Z.; Li, J.; Chen, M.; Koh, K. Y.; Du, Z.; Gin, K. Y.-H.; He, Y.; Ong, C. N.; Chen, J. P.* Microcystis aeruginosa removal by peroxides of hydrogen peroxide, peroxymonosulfate and peroxydisulfate without additional activators. Water Research 2021, 201, 117263.
  15. Li, J.; Liu, H.; Chen, J. P.* Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review on occurrence, environmental effects, and methods for microplastics detection. Water Research 2018, 137, 362–374.
  16. Zhao, D.; Yu, Y.; Chen, J. P.* Treatment of lead contaminated water by a PVDF membrane that is modified by zirconium, phosphate and PVA. Water Research 2016, 101, 564–573.
  17. He, J.; Siah, T.-S.; Chen, J. P.* Performance of an optimized Zr-based nanoparticle-embedded PSF blend hollow fiber membrane in treatment of fluoride contaminated water. Water Research 2014, 56, 88–97.
  18. Wei, Y.; Zheng, Y.; Chen, J. P.* Design and fabrication of an innovative and environmental friendly adsorbent for boron removal. Water Research 2011, 45 (6), 2297–2305ei, ; Zheng, Y.; Chen, J. P.* Uptake of methylated arsenic by a polymeric adsorbent: Process performance and adsorption chemistry. Water Research 2011, 45 (6), 2290–2296.
  19. Liu, H.; Yang, F.; Zheng, Y.; Kang, J.; Qu, J.; Chen, J. P.* Improvement of metal adsorption onto chitosan/Sargassum composite sorbent by an innovative ion-imprint technology. Water Research 2011, 45 (1), 145–154.
  20. Wang, Y.; Chen, M.; Yang, L.; Ma, J.; Tang, J.; Wu, S.; He, C.; Chen, J. P.* Virome and experimental analysis reveal tryptophan-like dissolved organic matter contributes to the persistence of plant viruses in river water. Advanced Science 2025, 12 (22), 2417529.

Staff Details

Email Address

ceecjp@nus.edu.sg