Jiang, Sunny

Dr. Sunny Jiang is a professor and Departmental Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of California, Irvine. She also serves as the Associate Director for UC Irvine Water and Energy Nexus Center. During her career at UCI, she has focused her research on microbiological water quality, engineered and natural water treatment including seawater desalination, and quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). Her group has pioneered the molecular detection system for rapid human pathogens identification in water and contributed to the US EPA's policy decision on water quality and human health protection in water reuse and water recreation. Current research projects in her group include developing pathogen and chemical sensors for real time monitoring of water contamination, assessment of human health risk from exposure to microbial contamination, modeling of risks of antibiotic resistance and removal of algal toxins during drinking water treatment. Her work is currently funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and National Science Foundation. Dr. Jiang served on U.S. National Academies committee to guide the nation on water reuse decision and contributed her expertise on WHO committee for Desalination. Dr. Jiang received her Ph.D. from University of South Florida in Marine Science. She has been a professor at University of California, Irvine since 1998.