Meet the team
Current members
Julie M. Schoenung
Department Chair and Professor
Materials Science and Engineering
Education
Ph.D., Materials Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S., Materials Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S. Ceramic Engineering, University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign
Research
Julie M. Schoenung has worked extensively in the area of novel materials processing, testing and characterization. She is currently a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. in materials engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in ceramic engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Schoenung was recently selected to be the recipient of the 2018 ASM International Edward DeMille Campbell Memorial Lectureship, the inaugural Innovation in Research Award (2017) from Materials Science & Engineering-A, and the 2016 Holloman Award for Materials & Society from Acta Materialia, Inc.. She is an Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy and has served for many years as a Key Reader for Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A (2003-present). She is also a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society, Alpha Sigma Mu Honor Society and ASM International. Dr. Schoenung’s research activities seek to provide fundamental insight into structure-processing-property mechanistic relationships in a variety of material systems. Innovative synthesis and consolidation processes are combined to fabricate novel materials that exhibit unique behavior. Her current research focus is on high entropy ceramics and additive manufacturing of ceramics, cermets, composites and metals. Key research discoveries include: development and implementation of nanoscratch testing, particularly of alumina and alumina/graphene composites; in-situ mechanical deformation during TEM to characterize ceramic/metal interfaces in nanostructured composites; mechanisms controlling spark plasma sintering of ceramics; synthesis of silicon nitride nanowires from cryomilled silicon powder; investigation of lead (Pb) in ceramics and electronics, and identification of safer alternatives; economic analysis of advanced ceramic component fabrication.
Dr. Schoenung’s work has also been complemented by several awards and distinctions such as Fellow, American Ceramic Society – 2018; Edward DeMille Campbell Memorial Lectureship, ASM International – 2018; Excellence in Research, Henry Samueli School of Engineering, UC Irvine – 2017; Innovation in Research Award (Inaugural Recipient), Materials Science and Engineering A (MSEA) – 2017; Fellow, Alpha Sigma Mu – 2016; Hollomon Award for Materials & Society, Acta Materialia, Inc. – 2016; Fellow, ASM International – 2012.
Dr. Schoenung also serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy.
Dele Ogunseitan
University of California Presidential Chair
Professor of Public Health
Education
Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Microbiology
M.P.H., University of California, Berkeley, Environmental Health Science
Certificate in International Health, University of California, Berkeley
Certificate in Teaching By Case Method, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Certificate in Global Health Diplomacy, Foreign Service Institute, Arlington, VA
Board Certification in Environmental Science, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, 2018
Certified in Public Health, National Board of Public Health Examiners, 2019
Research
I have three ongoing research programs. I am interested in the environmental and human health effects of industrial development with respect to pollution prevention and remediation. My laboratory is focused on the microbiological basis of pollutant detection and elimination. My research in industrial ecology is focused on interdisciplinary approaches to environmentally-benign product design and life cycle assessment of materials that affect human health and the environment. My work in the interface of heath and development is focused on understanding the burden of diseases associated with environmental pollution and specific industrial development projects.
Haoyang He
Postdoctoral Scholar
Materials Science and Engineering
Education
B.S., Functional Materials, Huazhong University of Science & Technology
Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine
Research
Haoyang He received his B.S in Functional Materials at Huazhong University of Science & Technology in 2015 and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering in 2020 at University of California, Irvine. He is currently working as a Postdoctoral Scholar at Professor Julie M. Schoenung’s research lab.
Haoyang’s research is focused on green engineering and sustainability assessment. He is currently working on applying assessment tools such as chemical hazard assessment, life cycle assessment, alternative assessment, techno-economic analysis, and environmental decision analysis to evaluate incoming materials, technologies and products.
Some of his research projects include:
– Environmental impact assessment, chemical hazard assessment, and techno-economic analysis of energy storage products such as flow batteries, lithium-ion batteries, organic photovoltaics, and CdTe solar cells.
– Decision making methods including multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for environmental decision making and materials selection.
– Sustainability assessment for carbon mitigation solutions including carbon dioxide capture and utilization.
Annalise Kramer
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Materials Science and Engineering
Education
B.S., Engineering, University of California, Irvine (Expected 2023)
Research
Annalise Kramer is a second-year undergraduate student studying engineering at UCI. She has had a passion for chemistry since she took her first chemistry class in her sophomore year of high school. Her interests grew after taking Advanced Chemical Research- a team-based research class offered her senior year of high school. Annalise plans on furthering her education in chemistry with a concentration in sustainability. She hopes to contribute to the creation of sustainable fashion in the future to help eliminate one of the largest sources of pollution in the world.
Annalise Kramer joined the WISDOM group in 2020 and was excited to join the team working on sustainable jewelry. She works with the WISDOM team to research sustainable processes of jewelry production. Currently, she collects and analyzes data pertaining to hazards, price, and mining of a variety of elements that are commonly used to make alloys for jewelry.
Eric Schwartz
Research Specialist
Materials Science and Engineering
Education
B.S.E., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine
Research
Eric is a researcher on the WISDOM team at UCI. He earned his B.S.E. in Materials Science from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.S. in Materials Science from the University of California, Irvine. Eric joined the WISDOM team in 2021, and he is currently investigating the environmental impacts of materials recovery from waste printed wiring boards (PWBs). He is interested in determining the optimal method for metal recovery to help recyclers make decisions of which method to choose. He is also interested in determining the feasibility of recovering value-added organic products from waste PWBs, improving the value of this already valuable waste stream.
Maryam Gamal Ibrahim
Ph.D. Student
Population Health and Disease Prevention
Education
B.A., Biology, Concordia University, Irvine
M.S., Conservation and Restoration Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Research
Maryam Ibrahim is a graduate student pursuing her doctorate in Environmental Toxicology at UC Irvine. She brings a wealth of research experience including undergraduate research at Concordia where she studied fungal and bacterial symbiosis in soil. As a master’s student at UCI, Maryam studied habitat restoration in several settings. Now as a PhD student, she is keen on adopting interdisciplinary strategies to problem solving. To that end, she intends to incorporate her skills and knowledge in soil microbiology and conservation research to inspire novel and creative solutions. Maryam also values a systems perspective including One Health and aims to bring these integrative approaches to bear on complex and multifactorial challenges. She is part of the UCI WISDOM and Microsoft initiative which seeks to identify environmentally benign and sustainable strategies for product development. Maryam is enthusiastic, curious, and excited to be working with a diverse team of scientists who are passionate about sustainable product development.
Alumni
Christopher Glaubensklee
WISDOM projects
- Alternatives to toxic metals in brass jewelry
- Recycled metals as feedstocks for additive manufacturing
Where are they now?
Materials Quality Engineer at Saint-Gobain
Xinyi Wang
WISDOM projects
- Studied environmental sustainability aspects of materials selection for high entropy alloys
Where are they now?
PhD Student in Materials and Manufacturing Technology at the University of California, Irvine
Amir Saeidi, Ph.D.
WISDOM projects
- Studied the role of alloying elements in the mechanical properties of copper-based jewelry alloy using Thermo-Calc software
Where are they now?
Instructional Assistant Professor – Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Texas A&M University
Branden Schwaebe
WISDOM projects
- Studied the environmental impacts and human health hazards created from the production and processing of electrolyte chemicals used in lithium ion batteries.
Where are they now?
Engineer at Advanced Sterilization Products