Joy Zeng

Joy Zeng serves as Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering in the School of Engineering at Brown University, joining the faculty in 2025. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT, followed by postdoctoral research in Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University.

The Zeng Lab conducts experimental electrocatalysis research focused on sustainability challenges, operating at the interface of chemistry, materials science, and engineering. Core research areas include:

• Electrified conversion of renewable/waste feedstocks into fuels and chemicals
• Energy storage solutions through electrocatalytic processes
• Industrial decarbonization pathways
• Valorization of waste streams (plastics, PFAS, methane)

Her group emphasizes rational design across multiple length scales while investigating molecular-level phenomena at electrode surfaces.

Research trends demonstrate strong interdisciplinary integration between chemical engineering fundamentals and urgent environmental applications, with particular emphasis on expanding electrocatalytic reaction repertoires for circular economy solutions. The lab maintains active collaborations across Brown University's research ecosystem as evidenced by coauthor network visualizations.

Advising includes mentoring PhD student Isaac Swenson (joined February 2025), who recently received the Dr. Paul F. Maeder Endowed Fellowship. The Zeng Lab cultivates a research environment centered on respect, kindness, and celebration of diverse perspectives, with intentional community-building extending beyond the laboratory to broader societal impacts of science.

The laboratory operates with a clear vision of tackling sustainability challenges in energy, manufacturing, and waste management through electron-driven reaction engineering, maintaining strong connections to Brown University's engineering research infrastructure.