EPC Lab

Major research interests include environmental nanotechnology; environmental colloid and surface science; membrane-based processes for water production; and molecular simulation.

We employ surface analytical techniques (e.g., AFM and QCM-D) to understand the interactions of bacteria, biomolecules and colloids with natural and engineered interfaces. Our work is guided and complemented by modeling and simulation.

Education

Ph.D., 2012, Chemical Engineering, Princeton University

Professional Background

Postdoctoral associate, Environmental Engineering, Yale University (2012-2014)

Selected Publications

J. Xue, S. BinAhmed, Z. Wang, N. G. Karp, B. L. Stottrup, S. Romero-Vargas Castrillón, Bacterial adhesion to graphene oxide (GO)-functionalized interfaces is determined by hydrophobicity and GO sheet spatial orientation, Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2018, 5, 14-19.

S. BinAhmed, A. Hasane, Z. Wang, A. Mansurov, S. Romero-Vargas Castrillón, Bacterial adhesion to ultrafiltration membranes: role of hydrophilicity, natural organic matter, and cell-surface macromolecules, Environ. Sci. Technol. 2018, 52, 162-172.

M. Karzar Jeddi, S. Romero-Vargas Castrillón, Dynamics of water monolayers confined by chemically heterogeneous surfaces: observation of surface-induced anisotropic diffusion, J. Phys. Chem. B 2017, 121, 9666-9675

S. Romero-Vargas Castrillón, F. Perreault, A. F. Faria, M. Elimelech, Interaction of Graphene Oxide with Bacterial Cell Membranes: Insights from Force Spectroscopy, Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2015, 2, 112-117.

S. Romero-Vargas Castrillón, X. Lu, D. L. Shaffer, M. Elimelech, Amine Enrichment and Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) Surface Modification of Thin-Film Composite Forward Osmosis Membranes for Organic Fouling Control, J. Membr. Sci. 2014, 450, 331-339.

X. Lu, S. Romero-Vargas Castrillón, D. L. Shaffer, M. Elimelech, In situ surface chemical modification of thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes for enhanced organic fouling resistance, Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47, 12219-12228.

A complete list of publications can be found in Google Scholar.