Won Jae Chang

Won Jae Chang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Engineering. He has held this position since August 2012, advancing from Assistant Professor to his current rank, with research expertise spanning environmental chemistry, biotechnology, and engineered materials for contamination remediation.

Education

• B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Hanyang University, South Korea (2001)
• M.Sc. in Geoenvironmental Engineering from the University of Alberta, Canada (2004)
• Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from McGill University, Canada (2010)

Dr. Chang's research pioneers innovative solutions for contaminated environments through fundamental investigation of physicochemical and biological processes. His work emphasizes cold-climate bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in freezing soils, waste-to-valuables conversion technologies, hybrid bioremediation-desalination systems, and engineered mineral applications for metal-contaminated groundwater and mine waste recycling. He develops field-scale remediation models integrating microbial community dynamics and soil respiration under extreme conditions like high salinity and seasonal freeze-thaw cycles.

Scientific Awards

• COVID 19 Teaching Award, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan
• High-End Foreign Experts, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, China (2021-2023)
• High-End Foreign Experts, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, China (2019)
• Outstanding Reviewer Award, Journal of Environmental Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) (2014)

As director of the Geo-Bio Synergy Engineering Lab, Dr. Chang mentors 18+ graduate students across Ph.D. and Master's programs, with completed advisees now employed at organizations including WSP Global, Natural Resource Canada, and Saskatchewan Research Council. His research receives support through national grant programs including NSERC and Mitacs, evidenced by his service as a grant reviewer for Canadian, Chilean, and international funding bodies. Current projects focus on cold-adapted bioremediation systems and waste valorization technologies.

The Geo-Bio Synergy Engineering Lab operates as a multidisciplinary hub for environmental innovation, featuring postdoctoral researchers, Ph.D. candidates, and research engineers developing field-deployable remediation technologies. Collaborations span Environment and Climate Change Canada, Beijing Normal University, and Saskatchewan-based industry partners, with expertise in biofiltration, zeolite applications, and functional gene-based decision modeling for contaminated site management.