Clarkson University Professor Yang Yang Receives Graham Faculty Research Award

May 10, 2025

Yang Yang, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, was awarded the John W. Graham Jr. Faculty Research Award during Clarkson University's spring 2025 commencement award’s ceremony on Friday.

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Headshot, Yang Yang

The $1,500 research account is presented to "faculty members who have shown promise in engineering, business, liberal arts or scientific research."

Yang’s work tackles one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time: the safe and sustainable removal of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” from our water and soil. Since joining Clarkson in 2019, he has secured over $3.8 million in external funding, earned three patents, published 15 impactful journal articles, and advised graduate students whose work has already earned national recognition. Beyond academia, he is the co-founder of ResET Water, a startup company dedicated to commercializing electrochemical water treatment technology.

A recognized leader in his field, Yang serves as an associate editor for Emerging Contaminants and is an Early Career Editorial Board member for ACS ES&T Engineering. His research group at Clarkson has received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DoE), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Environmental Research and Education Foundation. In 2023, he was awarded the prestigious NSF CAREER Award. He is also the recipient of the Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES) Early Career Award in 2024. Additionally, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists recognized him in its “40 Under 40” program.

Clarkson University is a proven leader in technological education, research, innovation and sustainable economic development. With its main campus in Potsdam, N.Y., and additional graduate program and research facilities in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley, Clarkson faculty have a direct impact on more than 7,800 students annually through nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate STEM designated degrees in engineering, business, science and health professions; executive education, industry-relevant credentials and K-12 STEM programs. Alumni earn salaries among the top 2% in the nation: one in five already leads in the c-suite. To learn more go to www.clarkson.edu.
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