CV

Earth and Environmental Sciences (EESC) Programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Office Phone: (852) 3943 5433  Fax: TBA

Office: Room 313, 3/F,  Mong Man Wai Building

 Lab: TBA

Email: achow@cuhk.edu.hk

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7441-8934 

Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CPZL3SUAAAAJ&hl=en 

I. CAREER SNAPSHOT 

•  Developed an internationally recognized research program in dissolved organic carbon biogeochemistry, with focusing on the impacts of climatic and anthropogenic changes on terrestrial-aquatic ecosystems. 

• Secured over $6 million USD as a leading principal investigator (over $9 million USD collaboratively) in research, teaching, and extension projects, including 8 NSF, 2 DOE, 4 DOI, 3 USEPA, and 5 NIFA awards. 

• Published 100+ peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals and book chapters in environmental science and engineering with h-index of 33. 

• Visiting fellow at Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (2019); Outstanding associated editor of Journal of Environmental Quality (2015): Best research paper in Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering (2004); Professor of the Future Award - National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Career Development Program USA (2003). 

• Technical (senior) editor of Journal of Environmental Quality (2020 – 2026), Associate editor of Water Research X (2023 - present); associate editor of Soil and Environmental Health (2023 – present); associate editor of Journal of Environmental Quality (2013 – 2019), Associate editor of Soil Science Society of America Journal (2013 - 2019). 

II. RESEARCH & TEACHING IMPACTS 

My research program in Dissolved Organic Carbon Biogeochemistry is to examine different climatic and anthropogenic impacts such as wildfire, hurricane, sea level rise, deforestation, and urbanization on both quantity and chemistry of dissolved organic carbon in terrestrial-aquatic ecosystems. Specifically, I apply molecular characterization techniques, coupled with field studies ranging in complexity from simple microcosms, experimental plots, whole watershed scales, and real disaster cases, to identify labile, recalcitrant, and reactive carbon fractions and moieties that affect nutrient cycles and fate of pollutants in both natural and engineering environments. I have successfully acquired over $9 million US dollar funding from different funding agencies including NSF, NIFA, DOE, and EPA. Results of these projects have been published in top tier peer-reviewed journals including Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, etc. Because of their importance, I was also invited to give presentations to global audiences including 2022 Royal Society of Chemistry COP26 and 2021 EPA Tools and Resources Webinars. 

Through my diverse research and teaching experiences in R1 doctoral universities, minority serving institutions, and experimental stations, I have served as a major advisor and a research mentor of 11 post-doctoral and visiting scholars, 15 graduate students, and 22 undergraduate and high school students with disciplines and majors in Environmental & Biosystems Engineering, Plant & Environmental Sciences, Wildlife & Fishery biology, and Forest Resources. My students showed high-quality research achievements and received competition awards in professional conferences and faculty positions in major research universities. In addition, I am very active in science outreach and was the project leader of several internationally recognized citizen science programs in sustainability, which were reported by CNN, New York Times, and many local mass media. Over five thousand citizen scientists participated the activities. 

III. Education, Professional Memberships & Appointments

A.Education & Training

• 2019 - 2020 

Visiting Fellow (Sabbatical Leave) 

Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape, WSL, Switzerland 

Project: Nitrogen deposition effects on dissolved organic matter in forested watersheds: Implication on source water quality and treatability 

Hosts: Dr. Patrick Schleppi & Dr. Frank Hagedorn 

• 2003 - 2006 

Post-doctoral Fellow 

Postdoctoral Career Development Program, National Institute of Health 

Project: Watershed Sources of disinfection byproducts 

Research Mentor: Prof. Randy Dahlgren at University of California, Davis 

Teaching Mentor: Prof. Bruce Manning at San Francisco State University 

• 1997 - 2000 

Ph.D., Hydrologic Science 

University of California, Davis 

Dissertation: Productions of dissolved organic carbon and disinfection byproduct precursors from cultivated peat soils in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA 

Advisor: Prof. Kenneth Tanji and Dr. Suduan Gao 

• 1996 - 1998 

M.Sc., Hydrologic Science 

University of California, Davis 

Thesis: Speciation of aluminum and phthalate system: An 27Al-NMR Study 

Advisor: Prof. William Casey 

• 1990 - 1994 

B.Sc., Chemistry with minor in Chemical Engineering 

University of California, Berkeley 

 B. Academic Appoinments & Employments

• 2023 – Present

Professor Earth and Environmental Sciences (EESC) Programme, Earth System Science, Science Faculty

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

• 2009 – 2023

Professor (2020 - 2023), Associate Professor (2015 - 2020), Tenured in 2015

Assistant Professor (2009 - 2015)

Department of Forestry & Environmental Conservation

Department of Environmental Engineering & Earth Science

Clemson University, South Carolina, USA 

• 2006 –  2008 

Associate Professor, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, 

South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China 

• 2004 –  2006 

Lecturer, Part-time, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 

San Francisco State University, California, USA 

• 
  

• 2002 –  2006 

Postdoctoral Scholar, Soil & Biogeochemistry Program / Wildlife Health Center, 

University of California, Davis, California, USA 

• 2000 –  2002 

Research Associate, Department of Biology & Veterinary Hospital 

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 

Hong Kong Ocean Park, Hong Kong 

• 1996 –  2000 

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, 

University of California, Davis, California, USA 

C. Professional Registrations & Memberships

• Member, American Chemical Society (2006 - Present) 

• Member, American Geophysical Union (2006 - Present) 

• Member, Soil Science Society of America (2011 - Present) 

• Member, International Water Association (2016 - Present) 

• Engineering-In-Training, Board of Registration for Professional Engineering and Land Surveyors, California, 1998. No. XE104225. 

• Scuba Diving Instructor, National Association of Underwater Instructors (2000 - 2006) 

• Scientific Diver, University of California (1998 - 2006)