Eric Hoek

Eric Hoek is a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. He serves as Faculty Director of the UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, a campus-wide initiative to transition Los Angeles County to a sustainable megacity by 2050. He is affiliated with the Institute of the Environment & Sustainability and the California NanoSystems Institute.

• Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering, Yale University (2002)
• M.S. in Environmental Science, University of California, Los Angeles (1996)
• B.S. in Environmental Science, Pennsylvania State University (1995)

Dr. Hoek's research bridges nanotechnology, membrane science, and electrochemistry for water, energy, and environmental sustainability. His work includes advanced desalination systems, biofouling mitigation, and sustainable water reuse technologies. He has authored over 110 peer-reviewed publications and co-invented 70+ patents globally.

His recent publications focus on nanomaterials for water purification, membrane fouling dynamics, and environmental impacts of biosolids. He has founded multiple technology companies, including NanoH2O and PolyCera, and contributes extensively to policy and industry innovation.

• 2023: UCLA Samueli University Service Award
• 2022: Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize, National Water Research Institute
• 2011: ASCE Walter L. Huber Award
• 2007: Public Works Magazine 'Trendsetter' for nanocomposite membranes

Dr. Hoek has advised over 50 graduate students, including Jared Coffelt, and leads the NanoMeTeR Lab. His initiatives, such as the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge and Heat Resilient L.A. project (funded with $956,000 in 2021), address climate-driven challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.