UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE) has welcomed four new faculty members whose research expands the breadth of expertise within its interdisciplinary community.
The new faculty bring expertise in climate-related extreme weather, membrane development, water quality management and battery improvements. Their work addresses challenges ranging from informing climate resilience and improving water quality to advancing sustainable energy technologies and developing safer, more durable batteries, adding new perspectives and opportunities for collaboration across Penn State.
“IEE brings researchers together around challenges that are too complex for any one field to address alone,” said Bruce Logan, director of the Institute of Energy and the Environment. “These new faculty members bring valuable expertise to that community, and we look forward to helping them connect with researchers across Penn State and find opportunities to turn complementary ideas into collaborative research.”
The new IEE faculty are:
Jhordanne Jones is an assistant professor in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Jones’ research examines tropical climate variability and its relationship to tropical cyclone activity, including how large-scale environmental conditions influence seasonal hurricane activity and how predictable those patterns may be. She uses climate models, global reanalysis datasets and simulations to better understand hurricane variability and its potential impacts, particularly for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean and elsewhere.
Mingyu Shin is a Bryant Early Career Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering. Shin’s research focuses on developing next-generation membrane materials, architectures and membrane-enabled processes for energy-efficient separations in water, energy and resource recovery. His group integrates molecular-scale membrane design with device- and process-level engineering to address persistent separation challenges. By moving beyond conventional membrane and process platforms, his work seeks to uncover transport mechanisms under complex chemical, electrochemical and multiphase environments.
Femeena Pandara Valappil is an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Valappil’s primary research is at the intersection of stream water quality management and the use of best management practices to improve stream health in agricultural and urban contexts. Her work also integrates Extension and stakeholder engagement to develop educational products and practical solutions for watershed management. She also has expertise in ecohydrological modeling, watershed-scale optimization, life cycle assessment and systems modeling of the water-energy-food nexus.
Jun Xu is the John J. and Jean M. Brennan Clean Energy Early Career Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering. Xu’s research combines physics-based modeling, artificial intelligence, advanced experimentation and multiphysics approaches to improve battery safety, durability, design, manufacturing and recycling. He also studies the mechanics and design of advanced materials and structures under coupled mechanical, thermal and electrochemical conditions.
IEE connects researchers across disciplines through its faculty community, research programs and collaborative initiatives, creating opportunities to advance solutions to complex energy and environmental challenges. The institute’s work spans five research themes: Climate and Natural Systems, Integrated Energy Systems, Water Sustainability, Equitable Communities and the Built Environment, and Health and the Environment.