Hokyong Shon

Professor Hokyong Shon directs the ARC Research Hub for Nutrients in a Circular Economy and heads Environmental and Water Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney. As Deputy Director of the Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment, he leads cutting-edge membrane research.

Shon's research advances:

• Low-energy desalination via fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO)
• Electrospun nanofiber membrane fabrication
• Lithium/rubidium recovery from brine
• Hydrogel applications in energy/water systems
• Urine separation for nutrient circularity

Recent publications (2025) demonstrate membrane innovations for contaminant removal, nutrient recovery processes, fouling-resistant desalination, and hydrogel energy applications. Technical focus includes material synthesis, process integration, and performance optimization.

Awards and leadership:

• Tony Fane Award recipient
• Ranked Australia's top researcher in water treatment (2021, 2024)
• Editor-in-Chief of Desalination journal
• ARC College of Experts member

With >$14M secured funding including ARC Future Fellowships and Industrial Transformation Hubs, Shon mentors research fellows and PhD students. His patented titanium coagulant technology earned global innovation awards including IWA Project Innovation Honour.