Hao Tang

Dr. Hao Tang is an Associate Professor in the Safety Sciences and Environmental Engineering Department within the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). His office is located in 155 Kopchick Hall, and he can be reached at 724-357-7925 or htang@iup.edu.

Dr. Tang's educational background includes:

• BS in Water Supply and Drainage Engineering from Hunan University
• MS in Environmental Engineering from Penn State - University Park
• PhD in Environmental Engineering from Penn State - University Park

Dr. Tang's research focuses on innovations in physical, chemical, and biological processes for water and wastewater treatment. His expertise spans environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, and water resources engineering. He has made significant contributions to understanding disinfection byproducts in swimming pools and municipal water systems, capacitive deionization technology for water desalination, and water quality issues related to shale gas production. His work bridges fundamental research with practical applications for improving water treatment processes and ensuring public health safety.

Dr. Tang's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on water treatment technologies, particularly examining disinfection byproducts across various water systems. His research often involves interdisciplinary approaches, combining engineering principles with environmental chemistry to address complex water quality challenges. Many of his recent publications investigate the formation mechanisms and control strategies for disinfection byproducts, which are critical concerns for public health and water treatment facilities worldwide.

Among Dr. Tang's notable recognitions:

• 2020: Alvyn Berg's paper (co-authored with Dr. Tang) chosen as Best Paper in Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering
• 2019: Recognition of 2018 scholarship achievement by the President's Office
• 2019: Selected to receive the Predominantly Undergraduate Institution (PUI) fund to attend Gordon Research Conference
• 2018: Excellence in Review Award for Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering

Dr. Tang actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in research projects related to water quality and treatment. He has supervised numerous students including Kuan Huang (now pursuing PhD at Case Western Reserve University), Alvyn Berg, Ting-An Fang, and many others who have presented at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. His research has been supported by grants including a USGS 104B award from the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center for his project 'Impacts of Shale Gas Extraction on Disinfection Byproduct Formation.' Dr. Tang serves on the Environmental Engineering Advisory Board and has chaired faculty development colloquium series on grant writing and budgeting for research proposals.

Dr. Tang maintains an active research laboratory at IUP that focuses on water and wastewater treatment processes. His lab provides hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students, with projects ranging from disinfection byproduct analysis to capacitive deionization technology development. The lab collaborates with various institutions including Penn State University and has conducted field studies at local wastewater treatment plants and power facilities, providing students with real-world context for their classroom learning.