Peer-reviewed Journal Publications
2026
K. Parkhurst, L. Piao, Z. Yu, P. Zhu, S. Srebnik, F. Jiang and J. Lee, “Enhancing the Stability and the Scalability of Tree-Mimicking Dewatering Devices by Employing Hygroscopic Cellulose.” Advanced Sustainable Systems, 10 (1), e01377 (2026).
H. Fukuda, J. Lee, “Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy-Assisted Mass Transfer Model for Supported Liquid Membranes in Arbitrary Degradation States.“ Journal of Membrane Science, 743, 125164 (2026).
2025
Y. Yang, H. Fukuda, D. Ma, Y. Zhang and J. Lee, “Revealing Wetting Patterns of Porous Hydrophobic Membranes for Desalination Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy.” Environmental Science and Technology, 59 (28), 14728–14738 (2025).
H. Fukuda, J. Lee “Real-time non-destructive monitoring of supported liquid membranes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy” Journal of Membrane Science, 713, 123360 (2025). Selected as Editor’s Choice.
2024
S. Kalam, A. Dutta, X. Du, X. Li, T. Tong, J. Lee “A non-substrate-specific technique of antifouling and antiwetting Janus membrane fabrication for membrane distillation” Desalination, 573, 117195 (2024).
Y. Yang, S. Kalam, S. Shabanian, K. Golovin, X. Zhou, Y. Zhang, J. Lee “Maximizing the wetting resistance of fluorine-free omniphobic membranes for hypersaline wastewater desalination” Water Research, 261, 122021 (2024)
S. Kalam, A. Dutta, X. Li, S. Lee, D. Nguyen, A. Straub, J. Lee “Maximizing Biochemical and Energy Recovery from Wastewater Using Vapor-Gap Membranes” ACS EST Engg. 4, 7, 1540-1561 (2024)
2023
J. Lee, “Design principles and considerations of omniphobic membranes for membrane distillation and contactor“ Journal of Membrane Science, 689, 122106 (2023).
P. Zhu, Z. Yu, H. Sun, D. Zheng, Y. Zheng, Y. Qian, Y. Wei, J. Lee, S. Srebnik, W. Chen, G. Chen, F. Jiang, “3D Printed Cellulose Nanofiber Aerogel Scaffold with Hierarchical Porous Structures for Fast Solar‐driven Atmospheric Water Harvesting” Advanced Materials, 36, 1, 2306653 (2023).
D. Nguyen, K. Lopez, S. Lee, J. Lee, M. Hernandez, A. Straub, “Water Desalination via Pressure-Driven Distillation with Chlorine-Resistant and Large-Area Polymeric Membranes” Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 10, 8, 711-717 (2023)
D. Nguyen, S. Lee, J. Lee, A. Straub “Pressure-driven distillation using air-trapping membranes for fast and selective water purification” Science Advances, 9, 28 (2023).
2022
H. Fukuda, J. Lee, “Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Recovery from Synthetic Organic Waste Streams Using Supported Liquid Membranes.” ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 10, 26, 8370-8379 (2022).
A. Dutta, S. Kalam, and J. Lee, “Elucidating the inherent fouling tolerance of membrane contactors for ammonia recovery from wastewater.” Journal of Membrane Science, 645, 120197 (2022).
Y. Yin, S. Kalam, J. Livingston, R. Minjarez, J. Lee, S. Lin, T. Tong, “The use of anti-scalants in gypsum scaling mitigation: Comparison with membrane surface modification and efficiency in combined reverse osmosis and membrane distillation” Journal of Membrane Science, 643, 120077 (2022).
D. Saabas and J. Lee, “Recovery of ammonia from simulated membrane contactor effluent using bipolar membrane electrodialysis.” Journal of Membrane Science, 644, 120081 (2022).
2021
T. Chen, W. Ma, J. Lee, D. Jassby, and Md. S. Rahaman, “Development of robust and superamphiphobic membranes using reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/PVDF-HFP nanocomposite mats for membrane distillation.” Environmental Science: Nano, 8, 2883-2893 (2021).
X. Li, H.S. Lee, Z. Wang, and J. Lee, “State-of-the-art Management Technologies of Dissolved Methane in Anaerobically- Treated Low-Strength Wastewaters: A Review.” Water Research, 200, 117269 (2021).
J. Lee, “Perspectives and design considerations of capillary-driven artificial trees for fast dewatering processes.” Scientific Reports, 11, 8631 (2021).
A. Dutta, X. Li, and J. Lee, “Dissolved methane recovery from anaerobically treated wastewaters using solvent-based membrane contactor: An experimental and modelling study.” Separation and Purification Technology, 258, 118004 (2021).
2020
C. Li, X. Li, X. Du, Y. Zhang, W. Wang, T. Tong, A.K. Kota, and J. Lee, “Elucidating the Trade-off between Membrane Wetting Resistance and Water Vapor Flux in Membrane Distillation.” Environmental Science and Technology, 54, 16, 10333–10341 (2020).
Y. Wang, J. Lee, J. Werber, and M. Elimelech, “Capillary-driven desalination in a synthetic mangrove.” Science Advances, Vol. 6, no. 8, eaax5253 (2020).
Featured in Guardian and Yale News.
2019
A. Deshmukh and J. Lee, “Membrane desalination performance governed by molecular reflection at the liquid-vapor interface.” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 140, 1006-1022 (2019).
C. Li, X. Li, X. Du, T. Tong, T.Y. Cath, and J. Lee, “Antiwetting and Antifouling Janus Membrane for Desalination of Saline Oily Wastewater by Membrane Distillation.” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11 (20), 18456-18465 (2019)
X. Li, A. Dutta, Q. Dong, S. Rollings-Scattergood, and J. Lee, “Dissolved Methane Harvesting Using Omniphobic Membranes for Anaerobically Treated Wastewaters.” Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 6 (4), 228-234 (2019)
2018 and before UBC
X. Du, Z. Zhang, K.H. Carlson, J. Lee, and T. Tong, “Membrane Fouling and Reusability in Membrane Distillation of Shale Oil and Gas Produced Water: Effects of Membrane Surface Wettability.” Journal of Membrane Science, 567, 199-208 (2018)
J. Lee*, A.P. Straub and M. Elimelech, “Vapor-Gap Membranes for Highly Selective Osmostically Driven Desalination.” Journal of Membrane Science, 555, 407-417 (2018)
* Corresponding author
T. Humplik, J. Lee, S.C. O’Hern, T. Laoui, R. Karnik and E.N. Wang, “Enhanced Water Transport and Salt Rejection through Hydrophobic Zeolite Pores.” Nanotechnology, 28(50), 505703 (2017)
D. Davenport, J. Lee and M. Elimelech, “Efficacy of antifouling modification of ultrafiltration membranes by grafting zwitterionic polymer brushes.” Separation and Purification Technology, 189, 389-398 (2017)
C. Liu*, J. Lee*, J. Ma and M. Elimelech, “Comparison of Organic Fouling Resistance of Thin-Film Composite Membranes Modified by Hydrophilic Silica Nanoparticles and Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes.” Journal of Membrane Science, 544, 135-142 (2017)
* First authorship shared.
C. Liu, J. Lee, J. Ma and M. Elimelech, “Antifouling Thin-Film Composite Membranes by Controlled Architecture of Zwitterionic Polymer Brush Layer.” Environmental Science and Technology, 51(4), 2161 (2017)
C. Boo, J. Lee and M. Elimelech, “Omniphobic Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Membrane for Desalination of Shale Gas Produced Water by Membrane Distillation.” Environmental Science and Technology, 50 (22), 12275 (2016)
C. Boo, J. Lee and M. Elimelech, “Engineering Surface Energy and Nanostructure of Microporous Films for Expanded Membrane Distillation Applications.” Environmental Science and Technology, 50(15), 8112 (2016)
A.P. Straub, N.Y. Yip, S. Lin, J. Lee and M. Elimelech, “Harvesting Low-grade Heat Energy using Thermo-osmotic Vapor Transport through Nanoporous Membranes.” Nature Energy, 1, 16090 (2016)
J. Lee, C. Boo, W. Ryu, A. Taylor and M. Elimelech. “Development of Omniphobic Desalination Membranes Using a Charged Electrospun Nanofiber Scaffold.” ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 8(17), 11154 (2016)
M. Xie, J. Lee, L.D. Nghiem, and M. Elimelech. “Role of pressure in organic fouling in forward osmosis and reverse osmosis.” Journal of Membrance Science, 493, 748 (2015)
G. Ye, J. Lee, F. Perrault and M. Elimelech. “Controlled Architecture of Dual-functional Block Copolymer Brushes on Thin-Film Composite Membrane via Surface-initiated ARGET-ATRP for Integrated ‘Defending’ and ‘Attacking’ Strategies against Biofouling.” ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 7(41), 23069 (2015)
J. Lee, T. Laoui and R. Karnik. “Nanofluidic Transport Governed by the Liquid/Vapour Interface.” Nature Nanotechnology, 9, 317 (2014).
This article has been featured in a number of media outlet, including Science Daily, American Society of Civil Engineering, and MIT news.
M. Boutilier*, J. Lee*, V. Chambers, V. Venkatesh and R. Karnik. “Water Filtration Using Plant Xylem.” PLOS One, 9(2), e89934 (2014)
* First authorship shared. This paper was featured in a number of media including National Public Radio, Science Daily, and Boston Globe, and ranked among top 25 most viewed articles of all time PLOS One.
J. Lee, F. Rahman, T. Laoui and R. Karnik. “Bubble-induced Damping in Displacement-driven Microfluidic Flows.” Physical Review E, 86, 026301 (2012)
T. Humplik, J. Lee, S. C. O’Hern, B. A. Fellman, M. A. Baig, S. F. Hassan, M. A. Atieh, F. Rahman, T. Laoui, R. Karnik and E. N. Wang. “Nanostructured Materials for Water Desalination.” Nanotechnology, 22, 292001 (2011)
J. Lee and R. Karnik. “Desalination of Water by Vapor-phase Transport through Hydrophobic Nanopores.” Journal of Applied Physics, 108, 044315 (2010)
J. Lee, J. Kim, H. Choi and K. Yang. “Sources of Spurious Force Oscillations from an Immersed Boundary Method for Moving-body Problems.” Journal of Computational Physics, 230(7), 2677 (2011)