Professional Title
Research Technical Manager, Environmental Engineer
With over 10 years experience in industry and academia, Dr. Cai's research interests include water chemistry, stormwater treatment, watershed / environmental statistics and climate change. Current research focuses on cost-effective technologies and materials to treat wastewater and stormwater. Dr. Cai is also an environmental statistician and GIS analyst, capable of multiple statistical methods and software including ArcGIS.
Recent Studies
- Low-concentration sulfate reduction by chemical precipitation technology
- Highway stormwater treatment using locally available waste materials
- Assessing environmental stressor impacts such as climate change on aquatic biological communities
Education
- Post-doctoral research associate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee – Knoxville, 2010-2012
- Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee – Knoxville 2010
- M.S., Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark 2006
- B.S., Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology 1997
Publications
The recent diatom-based paleolimnology of Lake Michigan
The recent diatom-based paleolimnology of Lake MichiganReavie, E. D., Bramburger, A. J. & Cai, M., Aug 2025, In: Journal of Paleolimnology. 73, 4, p. 347-360 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The recent diatom-based paleolimnology of Lake Michigan
The recent diatom-based paleolimnology of Lake MichiganReavie, E. D., Bramburger, A. J. & Cai, M., Aug 2025, In: Journal of Paleolimnology. 73, 4, p. 347-360 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Phytoplankton trends in the Laurentian Great Lakes (2001–2021) reveal significant changes in phytoplankton abundance and taxonomic composition
Phytoplankton trends in the Laurentian Great Lakes (2001–2021) reveal significant changes in phytoplankton abundance and taxonomic compositionReavie, E. D., Kovalenko, K. E., Cai, M., Alexson, E. E., Wellard Kelly, H. A. & Scofield, A. E., Apr 2025, In: Journal of Great Lakes Research. 51, 2, 102514.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Phytoplankton trends in the Laurentian Great Lakes (2001–2021) reveal significant changes in phytoplankton abundance and taxonomic composition
Phytoplankton trends in the Laurentian Great Lakes (2001–2021) reveal significant changes in phytoplankton abundance and taxonomic compositionReavie, E. D., Kovalenko, K. E., Cai, M., Alexson, E. E., Wellard Kelly, H. A. & Scofield, A. E., Apr 2025, In: Journal of Great Lakes Research. 51, 2, 102514.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Inhalable, elongate mineral particles from lake sediment records trace mining activities in northern Minnesota
Inhalable, elongate mineral particles from lake sediment records trace mining activities in northern MinnesotaZanko, L. M., Reavie, E. D., Post, S. P., Geerts, S. M. D., Hudak, G. J. & Cai, M., Aug 2022, In: Journal of Paleolimnology. 68, 2, p. 215-230 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
