Boya Xiong, University of Minnesota

Boya Xiong

Dr. Boya Xiong is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Dr. Xiong’s research focuses on the interface of polymer science and environmental engineering, to i) elucidate the fundamental mechanisms of polymer degradation that shape the fate, impact, and design of polymers; ii) develop novel biobased material for membrane processes to mitigate pathogens and fouling in water and wastewater treatment. Her work has been funded by NSF, ACS, CDC, and the state of Minnesota ($4.8 M in total with 61% her share). She was a recent NSF CAREER awardee and a McKnight Land-Grant Professor at UMN. She was selected as ASCE MN chapter Young Engineer of the Year in 2023 and an American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists 40 Under 40 awardee in 2024. Xiong earned a Ph.D. in Environmental engineering at Pennsylvania State University where she also obtained her M.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Xiong earned a B.S. in Biotechnology from East China University of Science and Technology. Prior to her appointment, Xiong was working as a postdoctoral associate at MIT.