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
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
Characterization and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in PM<sub>2.5</sub> in Xiamen Port
厦门港大气PM2.5中重金属污染特征及健康风险评价Translated title of the contribution: Characterization and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in PM2.5 in Xiamen PortXiao, S. H., Cai, M. J., Li, X., Huang, Z., Wang, J., Zhu, Q. D. & Wu, S. P., Jul 15 2022, In: Huanjing Kexue/Environmental Science. 43, 7, p. 3404-3415 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Characterization and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in PM<sub>2.5</sub> in Xiamen Port
厦门港大气PM2.5中重金属污染特征及健康风险评价Translated title of the contribution: Characterization and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in PM2.5 in Xiamen PortXiao, S. H., Cai, M. J., Li, X., Huang, Z., Wang, J., Zhu, Q. D. & Wu, S. P., Jul 15 2022, In: Huanjing Kexue/Environmental Science. 43, 7, p. 3404-3415 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Size distributions and dry deposition fluxes of water-soluble inorganic nitrogen in atmospheric aerosols in Xiamen Bay, China
Size distributions and dry deposition fluxes of water-soluble inorganic nitrogen in atmospheric aerosols in Xiamen Bay, ChinaWu, S. P., Li, X., Gao, Y., Cai, M. J., Xu, C., Schwab, J. J. & Yuan, C. S., Mar 2022, In: Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry. 79, 1, p. 17-38 22 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
