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Welcome to SusMinT Laboratory

Welcome to SusMinT Laboratory's website. Here, we aim to share our research, studies, and scientific contributions. Feel free to explore our work and get to know our team.

 

SusMinT Laboratory is dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research in the field of mineralogy and sustainable mining technologies. Our team is committed to making significant contributions to the scientific community and addressing the challenges in the mining industry. We strive to develop innovative and sustainable solutions through our extensive studies and collaborative projects.

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Expertise

Mineral Processing; Flotation Chemistry; Critical Materials Extraction and Purification, Hydrometallurgy

Education

B.S. Mineral Processing Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, 2011

M.S. Mineral Processing Engineering, Central South University, 2013

Ph.D. Mining Engineering, University of Kentucky, 2017

Awards and Honors

  • Top 1% scientist in the discipline of mining and metallurgy [2023 (DOI: 10.17632/btchxktzyw.6); 2022 (DOI: 10.17632/btchxktzyw.4)]

  • Top 2% scientist in all scientific discipline [2023 (DOI: 10.17632/btchxktzyw.6); 2022 (DOI: 10.17632/btchxktzyw.4)]

  • Fellow of Scialog: Sustainable Minerals, Metals and Materials (SM3), 2024.

  • Outstanding Young Engineer Award, Mineral Processing Division, Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, 2023.

  • By Example University Award, Virginia Tech, 2023.

  • Minerals 2022 Best Paper Award

  • Outstanding New Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence, 2022. 

  • Rong Yu Wan PhD Dissertation Award, Mineral Processing Division, SME, 2018 

  • Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Mining Department, University of Kentucky, 2017

Wencai Zhang, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering

Virginia Tech

Professional Experience

  • 06/2024 - Present: Associate Professor, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060

  • 08/2019 - 06/2024: Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060

  • 08/2018 - 07/2019: Assistant Research Professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506

  • 06/2017 - 07/2018: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506

Postdocs

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Xu Wang

(August 2023 - Present)

Ph.D. Minerals Processing Engineering, Central South University

M.S. Minerals Processing Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology

B.S. Minerals Processing Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology

Weiquan Zhan

(Starts in October 2024)

Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Engineering, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí

M.S. Minerals Engineering,

Wuhan University of Technology

B.S. Minerals Engineering,

Wuhan University of Technology

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Zhongqing Xiao

(Fall 2021 - Present; PhD Candidate )

M.S. Mining Engineering, West Virginia University

B.S. Mining Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology

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Shiyu Li

(Spring 2022 - Present; PhD Candidate)

M.S. Chemical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology

B.S. Polymer Materials and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University

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Yanan Pan

(Fall 2023 - Present; PhD Student)

M.S. in Resources and Environment Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology

B.S. in Environment Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology

Graduate Students

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Sepehr Ghaderi

(Fall 2023 - Present; PhD Candidate)

M.S. in Extractive Metallurgy, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

 

B.S. in Extractive Metallurgy, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

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Peidong Liu

(Fall 2023 - Present; PhD Candidate)

M.S. in Materials and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Hunan, China

B.S. in Powder Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Hunan, China

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Yi Wang

(Fall 2023 - Present; PhD Candidate)

M.S. in Mineral Processing, Fuzhou University, Fujian, China

B.S. in Mineral Processing, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Hubei, China

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Zhenghao Zhou

(Fall 2022 - Present; MS Student)

B.S. Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Tech

 

M.S. Mining and  Minerals Engineering, Virginia Tech (start in August, 2022)

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Wei Liu

Postdoc (2023)

Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, the University of Utah

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Sharon Pedraza

M.S. (2021-2023)

Current Position:

Process Engineer, Albemarle (Kings Mountain, NC ) 

Alumni

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Qi Li 

Ph.D. (2020-2023)

Current Position: Hydrometallurgist, Austin Elements, Inc. (Houston, TX)

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Bin Ji 

Ph.D. (2020-2022)

Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)

ACS CERM (11/06-09/2024)

Shiyu's PhD Defense (11/05/2024)

Cascade Falls Hiking (08/22/2024)

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