Shilai Hao

I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech, where I hold a joint appointment split 70% research and 30% teaching. My research program studies the fate and transport of contaminants of emerging concern — especially per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — in agricultural and environmental systems, and develops practical ways to remove and destroy these persistent pollutants. I combine interdisciplinary approaches with advanced analytical tools such as liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to build cost-effective solutions that protect water resources and public health. I also teach undergraduate and graduate courses on water quality.

Research Directions

Emerging Contaminants of Concern (CECs). Detection and treatment of PFAS and other persistent pollutants across both natural and engineered systems.

Resource Recovery from Waste. Designing processes to recover valuable materials — including lithium and rare earth elements (REEs) — from end-of-life sources such as spent lithium-ion batteries and solar panels.

Environmental Analytical Chemistry. Advancing environmental analysis through improved sample preparation and methods, including total organic halogen (TOX) analysis.

Expertise

• Environmental organic chemistry
• Molecular characterization of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs)
• Environmental remediation

Education

• Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 2022
• M.Sc., Environmental Engineering, Fudan University, 2016
• B.Sc., Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, 2013

Contact

📧 shilai@vt.edu  ·  1880 Pratt Dr, Room 1120B, Blacksburg, VA 24061