Meng Wang

Dr. Wang's research interests lie at the interface of bionanotechnology, microbiology, and material science. Specifically, his research seeks to (i) design novel bionanomaterials to enable sustainable and efficient water purification, (ii) harness the biochemical potential of microorganisms in bioremediation and resource recovery, and (iii) understand the effects of emerging contaminants on microbial activities in natural and engineered systems.

  • (2016) Student Paper Competition Honorable Mention, Emerging Contaminants Summit.
  • (2016) Certificate of Merit, ACS Spring 2016 National Meeting & Exposition.
  • (2016) MWH/AEESP Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award, Second Place, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
  • (2017) Student Award, Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization Annual Conference.

  • Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 2015 - 2018
  • M.S., University of California, Los Angeles, 2012 - 2015
  • B.S., Nanjing University, 2008 - 2012

  • Han, Z., Ma, Y., & Wang, M. (2025). Ferritin Protein Nanocages for Selective Separation and Recovery of Critical Metals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, 12(5), 567-572.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.5c00181.
  • Vizcarra, M.J.J., Han, Z., Gao, P., & Wang, M. (2025). Underrecognized three-carbon chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons: Occurrence, regulation, and treatment strategies. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 55(14), 1047-1069.Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/10643389.2025.2484889.
  • Yao, D., Li, Y., Tian, K., Wang, M., Tan, D., Fu, X., Wu, Y., Liu, Y., & Wang, H. (2025). Enhanced photosynthetic CO2 fixation in mutualistic Chlorella sp. and Mesorhizobium loti co-cultures. Chemical Engineering Journal, 516, 163671.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.163671.
  • Zhang, Y., Bais, C., Yuan, Y., Huang, Q., Zhang, L., Wang, M., & Liu, Y. (2025). Exploring the impact of granular activated carbon on anaerobic digestion: Insights into microbial cross-feeding mechanism. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, 13(5).Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.118012.
  • Griffin, A., Robertson, M., Frame, P., Ma, G., Green, K.A., Han, Z., Morgan, S.E., Gu, X., Wang, M., & Qiang, Z. (2024). A general strategy to prepare macro-/mesoporous materials from thermoplastic elastomer blends. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, 12(22), 13139-13152.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/d4ta01590h.
  • Ma, Y., Yi, S., & Wang, M. (2024). Biomimetic mineralization for carbon capture and sequestration. CARBON CAPTURE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 13.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.ccst.2024.100257.
  • Tian, K., Pan, J., Liu, Y., Wang, P., Zhong, M., Dong, Y., & Wang, M. (2024). Fe-ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst for heterogeneous Fenton oxidation of 1,4-dioxane: effect of Si/Al ratios and contributions of reactive oxygen species. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 31(13), 19738-19752.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-32287-0.
  • Jiménez Vizcarra, M.J., Mahendra, S., & Wang, M. (2023). A Co-Immobilized Enzyme-Mediator System for Facilitating Manganese Peroxidase Catalysis in Solution Free of Divalent Manganese Ions. Bioresour Technol, 390, 129897.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129897.
  • Merino, N., Wang, N., Gao, Y., Wang, M., & Mahendra, S. (2023). Roles of various enzymes in the biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) by a white-rot fungus. J Hazard Mater, 450, 131007.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131007.
  • Gao, Y., Shah, K., Kwok, I., Wang, M., Rome, L.H., & Mahendra, S. (2022). Immobilized fungal enzymes: Innovations and potential applications in biodegradation and biosynthesis. Biotechnol Adv, 57, 107936.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107936.
  • Gao, Y., Wang, M., Shah, K., Singh Kalra, S., Rome, L.H., & Mahendra, S. (2022). Decolorization and detoxification of synthetic dye compounds by laccase immobilized in vault nanoparticles. Bioresour Technol, 351, 127040.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127040.
  • Borthakur, A., Wang, M., He, M., Ascencio, K., Blotevogel, J., Adamson, D.T., Mahendra, S., & Mohanty, S.K. (2021). Perfluoroalkyl acids on suspended particles: Significant transport pathways in surface runoff, surface waters, and subsurface soils. J Hazard Mater, 417, 126159.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126159.
  • Wang, M., Kickhoefer, V.A., Lan, E.H., Dunn, B.S., Rome, L.H., & Mahendra, S. (2021). Vault nanocapsule-mediated biomimetic silicification for efficient and robust immobilization of proteins in silica composites. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, 418.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.129406.
  • Lothe, A.G., Kalra, S.S., Wang, M., Mack, E.E., Walecka-Hutchison, C., Kickhoefer, V.A., Rome, L.H., & Mahendra, S. (2020). Vault packaged enzyme mediated degradation of amino-aromatic energetic compounds. Chemosphere, 242, 125117.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125117.
  • Wang, M., Chen, Y., Kickhoefer, V.A., Rome, L.H., Allard, P., & Mahendra, S. (2019). A Vault-Encapsulated Enzyme Approach for Efficient Degradation and Detoxification of Bisphenol A and Its Analogues. ACS Sustain Chem Eng, 7(6), 5808-5817.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b05432.
  • Wang, M., Mohanty, S.K., & Mahendra, S. (2019). Nanomaterial-Supported Enzymes for Water Purification and Monitoring in Point-of-Use Water Supply Systems. Acc Chem Res, 52(4), 876-885.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.accounts.8b00613.
  • Merino, N., Wang, M., Ambrocio, R., Mak, K., O'Connor, E., Gao, A., Hawley, E.L., Deeb, R.A., Tseng, L.Y., & Mahendra, S. (2018). Fungal biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol. Remediation Journal, 28(2), 59-70.Wiley. doi: 10.1002/rem.21550.
  • Wang, M., Abad, D., Kickhoefer, V.A., Rome, L.H., & Mahendra, S. (2018). Encapsulation of Exogenous Proteins in Vault Nanoparticles. In Protein Scaffolds. 1798, (pp. 25-37).Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7893-9_3.
  • Wang, M., Kickhoefer, V.A., Rome, L.H., Foellmer, O.K., & Mahendra, S. (2018). Synthesis and assembly of human vault particles in yeast. Biotechnol Bioeng, 115(12), 2941-2950.Wiley. doi: 10.1002/bit.26825.
  • Zhu, Z.Y., Jiang, S.Y., Mathur, R., Cook, N.J., Yang, T., Wang, M., Ma, L., & Ciobanu, C.L. (2018). Iron isotope behavior during fluid/rock interaction in K-feldspar alteration zone - A model for pyrite in gold deposits from the Jiaodong Peninsula, East China. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, 222, 94-116.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2017.10.001.
  • Wang, M., Abad, D., Kickhoefer, V.A., Rome, L.H., & Mahendra, S. (2015). Vault Nanoparticles Packaged with Enzymes as an Efficient Pollutant Biodegradation Technology. ACS Nano, 9(11), 10931-10940.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsnano.5b04073.
Research Interests
Industrial biotechnology Chemical engineering Agricultural biotechnology Biochemistry and cell biology Microbiology Environmental biotechnology