Faculty

Stacey Louie
Dr. Stacey Louie, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor
Office Location: N123 Engineering Building 1, Houston, TX 77204-4003
Phone: 713-743-8646 | Fax: 713-743-4260
Email: slouie [at] uh [dot] edu
Research Website

Education: 

Ph.D., Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2014
M.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2010
B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas – Austin, 2009

Professional Experience: 

2016 – Present: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Houston
2014 – 2016: National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow, Materials Measurement Science Division (MMSD), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – Gaithersburg, MD
2009 – 2014: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

Classes: 

CIVE 6378: Principles of Environmental Modeling (Fall 2016)

Students Supervised: 

Sheyda Shakiba, Ph.D. student (Dec. 2016 – present)

Abdul Moiz Sohail, Ph.D. student (Jun. 2019 – present)

Riya Ann Mathew, Ph.D. student (Aug. 2019 – present)

Tchemongo "Kissa" Berté, M.S. student (Jun. 2019 – present)

Prospective Student Opportunities

Ph.D. research assistant positions are available.  Students with interest in the environmental impacts or applications of colloids or nanomaterials, environmental surface chemistry, organic geochemistry, and environmental analytical chemistry are encouraged to apply.  Dr. Louie’s projects lie at the interface of these research areas.  Please contact Dr. Louie with your CV, including GPA and GRE scores (and TOEFL scores, if applicable).  Visiting scholars and undergraduate and graduate students are also encouraged to contact Dr. Louie regarding research opportunities.

Awards & Honors: 

UH Cullen College of Engineering Junior Faculty Research Excellence Award, 2020
UH Cullen College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award, 2020
Outstanding Reviewer of 2016, 2018, and 2019, Environmental Science: Nano journal, 2017
NRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 2014
Student Oral Presentation Award, First Place, 8th International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials, Aix-en-Provence, France, 2013
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2012
Prem Narain Srivastava Legacy Fellowship, Carnegie Mellon University, 2011
Jared and Maureen Cohon Graduate Fellowship in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2010 and 2011
Environmental Protection Agency STAR Graduate Fellowship, 2010
Carnegie Institute of Technology Dean’s Fellowship, Carnegie Mellon University, 2009
Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarship, University of Texas–Austin, 2007
Cockrell School of Engineering Scholarship, University of Texas–Austin, 2005-2009

Research Interests: 

Our group’s research contributes to the fields of environmental nanotechnology and environmental fate and transport of nanoparticles, colloids, and emerging contaminants.  We are evaluating and improving nanotechnologies for advanced wastewater treatment applications.  We are also assessing the environmental health and safety implications of nanomaterials, including the inherent risks of the nanomaterial itself and the role of nanomaterials as delivery technologies to either alleviate or exacerbate the risks of other emerging contaminants. 

Our research is especially focused on surface interactions of particles and the degradation of polymeric coatings or particles in environmental systems, such as wastewater treatment plants or natural waters.  Specific research topics include adsorption of natural organic matter and biomolecules onto particle surfaces, experimental approaches to characterize and predict the properties of these adsorbed layers, the effects of surface coatings on the behavior of the particles, and the extent and rate of polymer degradation.

Sponsored Research / Research Grant: 

NSF Award # 1705511: Effects of Surface-Adsorbed Biomolecules and Geomolecules on the Photoreactivity of Metal Oxide Nanomaterials
USDA-NIFA Award # 2018-67022-27969: Fate of Antibiotic Loaded Nanoparticles in Digestive Systems and Effects on Livestock Gastrointestinal Microbiome
NSF Award # 1820778: Wetland Facility for the University of Houston Coastal Center

Presentations: 

Louie, S.M.; Shakiba, S.; Astete, C.E.; Sabliov, C.M.; Rodrigues, D.F. "Sensitive and accurate real-time determination of drug release rates from polymer nanoparticles by asymmetric flow field - flow fractionation." 2nd Pan American Congress of Nanotechnology, Aguas de Lindoia, São Paulo, Brazil, Mar 2020.
Louie, S.M.; Mathew, R.A.; Sohail, A.M.; Shakiba, S. "Influence of surface coatings on photocatalytic reaction pathways of titanium dioxide nanoparticles." Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) Conference, San Diego, CA, Nov 2019.
Louie, S.M.; Li, Z.; Shakiba, S.; Deng, N.; Chen, J.; Hu, Y. "Mechanisms controlling adsorption and colloidal stability of ferrihydrite nanoparticles with natural organic matter." International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry (ISEG), Beijing, China, Aug 2019.
Li, Z.; Shakiba, S.; Louie, S.M.; Hu, Y. "Effects of natural organic matter with different molecular weights on ferrihydrite nanoparticle aggregation and adsorption." Chinese Environmental Scholars Forum, Houston, TX, May 2019.
Louie, S.M.; Shakiba, S.; Astete, C.E.; Sabliov, C.M.; Rodrigues, D.F. "Asymmetric Flow Field–Flow Fractionation (AF4) Methods for Rapid Characterization of Polymeric Nanocarriers." USDA Grantees Meeting, Vanderbilt University, TN, May 2019.
Louie, S.M.; Shakiba, S.; Astete, C.E.; Sabliov, C.M. "Characterizing the fate of drug-loaded nanoparticles in complex biological media." Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) Conference, Washington, DC, Nov 2018.
Louie, S.M.; Shakiba, S. "Evaluation of mixture effects in adsorption of macromolecules to nanoparticles." Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Environmental Nanotechnology, Stowe, VT, Jun 2017.
Louie, S.M.; Gorham, J.M.; Hackley, V.A. "Key principles in occurrence, characterization, and effects of photo-transformations of polymeric coatings on nanoparticles.” Oral presentation. Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) Conference, Orlando, FL.
Louie, S.M.; Gorham, J.M.; Hackley, V.A. “Photochemical transformations of polyvinylpyrrolidone coatings on gold nanoparticles.” Oral presentation. 11th International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials (ICEENN), Golden, CO. August 2016.
Louie, S.M.; Hackley, V.A. "Photostability of polymeric coatings on gold nanoparticles." Poster presentation. Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Environmental Nanotechnology, West Dover, VT. June 2015.
Louie, S.M.; Spielman-Sun, E.R.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. "Properties of various natural organic matter samples that control gold nanoparticle aggregation." Oral presentation. ACS National Meeting, Dallas, TX. March 2014.
Louie, S.M.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. “Effects of molar mass fractions of various natural organic matter samples on nanoparticle aggregation.” Oral presentation. 8th ICEENN, Aix-en-Provence, France. July 2013.
Louie, S.M.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. “Impact of NOM on nanoparticle aggregation depends on NOM molecular weight distribution.” Oral presentation. ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA. April 2013.
Louie, S.M.; Phenrat, T.; Lowry, G.V. “Numerical electrokinetic method to determine surface coating thickness on nanoparticles improves prediction of transport behavior.” Oral presentation. Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) Conference, Arlington, VA. November 2012.
Louie, S.M.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. “Impact of NOM molecular weight fractions on nanoparticle stability and transport.” Oral presentation. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. November 2012.
Louie, S.M.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. “Electrokinetic method for estimation of coating layer thickness: Toward improved predictions of nanoparticle attachment.” Oral presentation. ACS Colloids and Surfaces Symposium, Baltimore, MD. June 2012.
Louie, S.M.; Phenrat, T.; Small, M.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. “Electrokinetic method for characterization of coating layer thicknesses on nanoparticles: Statistical analysis and validation.” Poster presentation. ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA. March 2012.
Louie, S.M.; Phenrat, T.; Small, M.J.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. “Determination of polyelectrolyte coating layer thickness by application of soft particle electrokinetic theory.” Poster presentation. GRC – Environmental Nanotechnology, Waterville Valley, NH. May 2011.
Louie, S.M.; Lowry, G.V. “Influence of morphology on transport of polymer-coated nanoparticles.” Oral presentation. Materials Research Society (MRS) Meeting, Boston, MA. November 2010.
Louie, S.M.; Phenrat, T.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. “Macromolecule-coated nanoparticles: Characterization by Ohshima’s method, and impact of morphology on environmental deposition.” Oral presentation. ICEENN, Clemson, SC. August 2010.

Invited Presentations / Lectures: 

Louie, S.M.; Shakiba, S. "Formation and effects of heterogeneous protein-humic surface coatings on nanoparticles." American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall National Meeting, Royal Society of Chemistry Emerging Investigators Symposium, Boston, MA, Aug 2018.

Louie, S.M. "Nanoparticle interactions with macromolecules and small organic molecules." Sloan Foundation Workshop on NanoChemistry of Indoor Environments, New York City, NY, Jul 2018.

Louie, S.M.; Shakiba, S. "Formation of heterogeneous protein-humic surface coatings on metal oxide nanoparticles." 1st Pan American Congress of Nanotechnology – Fundamental and Applications to Shape the Future, Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil, Nov 2017.

Louie, S.M; McGivney, E.A.; Gregory, K.B.; Hackley, V.A. "Photo-induced transformations of polymeric coatings on gold nanoparticles." ACS Fall National Meeting, Boston, MA, Aug 2015.

Selected Publications: 

Li, Z.; Shakiba, S.; Deng, N.; Chen, J.; Louie, S.M.; Hu, Y. Natural organic matter (NOM) imparts molecular-weight-dependent steric stabilization or electrostatic destabilization to ferrihydrite nanoparticles. Environmental Science & Technology , 2020, 54, 6761–6770.

Shakiba, S.; Astete, C.E.; Paudel, S.; Sabliov, C.M.; Rodrigues, D.F.; Louie, S.M. Emerging investigator series: Polymeric nanocarriers for agricultural applications: synthesis, characterization, and environmental and biological interactions. Environmental Science: Nano, 2020, 7, 37-67.

Shakiba, S.; Hakimian, A.; Barco L.R.; Louie, S.M. Dynamic intermolecular interactions control adsorption from mixtures of natural organic matter and protein onto titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Environmental Science & Technology, 2018, 52, 14158–14168.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles: 

Peña-Bahamonde, J.; Wu, C.; Fanourakis, S.K.; Louie, S.M.; Bao, J.; Rodrigues D.F. Oxidation state of Mo affects dissolution and visible-light photocatalytic activity of MoO3 nanostructures. Journal of Catalysis, 2020, 382, 508-519.

Hung, A.M.; Pahlavan, F.; Shakiba, S.; Chang, S.L.Y.; Louie, S.M.; Fini, E.H. Preventing assembly and crystallization of alkane acids at the silica–bitumen interface to enhance interfacial resistance to moisture damage. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2019, 58, 21542-21552.

Hosseinnezhad, S.; Shakiba, S.; Mousavi, M.; Louie, S.M.; Karnati, S.R.; Fini, E.H. Multiscale evaluation of moisture susceptibility of biomodified bitumen. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2019, 2, 5779-5789.

Paudel, S.; Cerbu, C.; Astete, C.E.; Louie, S.M.; Sabliov, C.; Rodrigues, D.F. Enrofloxacin-impregnated PLGA nanocarriers for efficient therapeutics and diminished generation of reactive oxygen species. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2019, 2, 5035-5043.

Liu, J.; Louie, S.M.; Pham, C.; Dai, C.; Liang, D.; Hu, Y. Aggregation of ferrihydrite nanoparticles: Effects of pH, electrolytes, and organics. Environmental Research, 2019, 172, 552-560.

Fan, J.; Louie, S.M.; Rodrigues, D.F. The influence of salinity, pH, temperature and particles on produced water oil quantification precision and accuracy with confocal laser fluorescence microscopy. Energy & Fuels, 2018, 32, 6978-6989.

El Hadri, H.; Louie, S.M.; Hackley V.A. Assessing the interactions of metal nanoparticles in soil and sediment matrices – a quantitative analytical multi-technique approach. Environmental Science: Nano, 2018, 5, 203-214.

Louie, S.M.; Gorham, J.M.; Tan, J.; Hackley V.A. Ultraviolet photo-oxidation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coatings on gold nanoparticles. Environmental Science: Nano, 2017, 4, 1866-1875.

Louie, S.M.; Gorham, J.M.; McGivney, E.A.; Liu, J.; Gregory, K.B.; Hackley V.A. Photochemical transformations of thiolated polyethylene glycol coatings on gold nanoparticles. Environmental Science: Nano, 2016, 3, 1090-1102.

Louie, S.M.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. Critical Review: Impacts of macromolecular coatings on critical physicochemical processes controlling environmental fate of nanomaterials. Environmental Science: Nano, 2016, 3, 283-310.

Louie, S.M.; Spielman-Sun, E.; Small, M.J.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. Correlation of the physicochemical properties of natural organic matter samples from different sources to their effects on gold nanoparticle aggregation in monovalent electrolyte. Environmental Science & Technology, 2015, 49, 2188-2198.

Hotze, E.M.; Louie, S.M.; Lin, S.; Wiesner, M.R.; Lowry, G.V. Nanoparticle core properties affect attachment of macromolecule-coated nanoparticles to silica surfaces. Environmental Chemistry, 2014, 11, 257-267.

Louie, S.M.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. Effects of molecular weight distribution and chemical properties of natural organic matter on gold nanoparticle aggregation. Environmental Science and Technology, 2013, 47, 4245-4254.

Louie, S.M.; Phenrat, T.; Small, M.J.; Tilton, R.D.; Lowry, G.V. Parameter identifiability in application of soft particle electrokinetic theory to determine polymer and polyelectrolyte coating thicknesses on colloids. Langmuir, 2012, 28, 10334.

Golas, P.L.; Louie, S.M.; Lowry, G.V.; Matyjaszewski, K.; Tilton, R.D. Comparative study of polymeric stabilizers for magnetite nanoparticles using ATRP. Langmuir, 2010, 26, 16890.

Books / Book Chapters: 

Louie, S.M.; Dale, A.L.; Casman, E.A.; Lowry, G.V. Challenges facing the environmental nanotechnology research enterprise. Book chapter in Engineered Nanoparticles and the Environment: Biophysicochemical Processes and Biotoxicity; Xing, B., Vecitis, C.D., Senesi, N., Eds.; John Wiley & Sons, 2016, 4, 3-19.
Louie, S.M.; Ma, R.; Lowry, G.V. Transformations of nanomaterials in the environment. Book chapter in Lead, J., Valsami-Jones, E., Eds.; Nanoscience and the Environment, Vol. 7, FNS, UK: Elsevier, 2014¸ 55-88.

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS

  • Pettibone, J.M.; Louie, S.M.  Research highlights: Improved understanding of ecological impacts resulting from nanomaterial-based in situ remediation.  Environmental Science: Nano, 2016, 3, 236.
  • Louie, S.M.; Pettibone, J.M.  Research highlights: Engineering nanomaterial-based water treatment systems for environmental applications.  Environmental Science: Nano, 2016, 3, 11.
  • Pettibone, J.M.; Louie, S.M. Research highlights: Towards further understanding nanoparticle-cellular membrane interactions.  Environmental Science: Nano, 2015, 2, 664.
  • Louie, S.M.; Pettibone, J.M.  Research highlights: Probing adsorbed organic coatings on nanoparticle surfaces.  Environmental Science: Nano, 2015, 2, 417.
  • Pettibone, J.M.; Louie, S.M.  Research highlights: Detecting, characterizing and quantifying the presence and impact of carbon nanomaterials in environmental systems.  Environmental Science: Nano, 2015, 2, 308.
  • Louie, S.M.; Pettibone, J.M. Research highlights: Elucidating the role of complex interactions affecting nanoparticle deposition.  Environmental Science: Nano, 2015, 2, 222.

Location

Cullen College of Engineering Building 1
Civil and Environmental Engineering
4726 Calhoun Road, Room N107
Houston, TX 77204-4003
Phone: 713-743-4250
Fax: 713-743-4260
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