Funded Research Projects

1. Multifunctional electrochemical sensor for sensitive and selective detection of PFAS in landfill leachate, PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (60%), Co-PI: Anwar Sadmani (40%), Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, Award Number: AWD19007, $59,000 (09/01/2025 – 08/31/2026)
2. Biofilm Characterization and Analytical Profiling of Floating Solids, PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), City of Orlando, $5,000 (08/04/2025–08/03/2026)
3. STAR: Multifunctional 2D MoS₂ Porous Nanosensor for PFAS Detection and Degradation in Surface and Groundwater, PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Co-PI: Yeonwoong Jung (50%), Seed Translational & Accelerated Research (STAR), NSF Accelerating Research Translation (ART) Geosciences I-Corps, $3,000 (04/21/2025–10/31/2025)
4. Rapid detection and forecasting of Microcystin occurrence in inland and coastal waters, PI: Anwar Sadmani, Co-PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (, Grant Number: 4O-03D10224, $400,000 (06/01/2024–05/31/2028)
5. Development of a molecularly imprinted (MIP) electrochemical sensor for rapid and cost-effective detection of geosmin and 2-MIB in water, METAWATER Co. Ltd., PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), $35,000 (01/29/2025–03/31/2026)
6. Semiconducting polymer-based electrochemical sensor for detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water, METAWATER Co. Ltd., PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), $75,000 (01/01/2024 – 03/31/2026)
7. Novel Multifunctional Nanosensor Platform For On-site PFAS Detection and Degradation of PFAS in Surface Water and Wastewater, Seed Funding Program, UCF, PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (60%), co-PI: Yeonwoong Jung (40%), $49,933 (02/01/2025 – 01/31/2026)
8. Validation and Field Feasibility of a Multi-parameter Sensor for Real-Time Algal Toxin Monitoring in Florida Waters, Korea Water Partnership (KWP), PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), $30,000 (03/01/2025 – 12/31/2025)
9. Hydrothermal Gasification of Concentrated Black Water to Produce Energy and Low Tier Water, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), Mainstream Engineering Corporation (Subcontract No. AR0013D; Government Prime Contract No. W56HZV-22-C-0013), $280,000 (12/20/2022 – 08/08/2025)
10. Advancing biohydrogen production using an electrochemical photobioreactor (EPBR) for sustainable space exploration, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium, NASA Education Cooperative Agreement # 80NSSC20M0093, $25,000 (07/22/2024–05/05/2025)
11. Space water disinfection by recycling urine using microbial peroxide producing cell (MPPC), PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%)
12. Solar-driven photodegradation of MC-LR using a novel Au-decorated Ni metal-organic framework (Au/Ni-MOF), PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Co-PI: Dr. Yang Yang (50%), US Environmental Protection Agency, Grant Number: SU84086701-0, $75,000 (01/01/2024–05/10/2025)
13. A novel process to significantly improve photo-algal hydrogen production (PSIH2) for space mission, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium, NASA Education Cooperative Agreement # 80NSSC20M0093, $25,000 (08/07/2023–08/06/2024)
14. Improving photo-biohydrogen production using a novel proton supply photobioreactor (PS-PBR), PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC), NASA Training Grant # 80NSSC20M0093, $10,000 (08/07/2023–08/06/2024
15. Phase I: Rapid and simple MC-LR check to monitor blooms for early action, PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (100%),
16. A biopolymer-based simple and reagentless electrochemical manganese check in water, METAWATER Co. Ltd., PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), $67,500 (10/5/2022 – 3/31/2024)
17. Development of Heavy Metal Sensors and Analytical Systems for Methanogens in Anaerobic Digestion, PI: Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), University of Suwon on behalf of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Korea (Grant Number: 21UGCP-B157945-02), $139,030 (1/1/2021–12/31/2023)
18. Phase II: A Biopolymer-based Simple Lead Check in Tap Water, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Co-PI: Dr. Hyoung Jin Cho (50%) and Dr. Jae-Hoon Hwang, US Environmental Protection Agency, Grant Number: SV84002101, $75,000 (07/01/2020 – 06/30/2023)
19. Lemelson Foundation Environmentally Responsible Engineering (ERE) Pilot Program, PI: Dr. Thomas O’Neal (50%), co-PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Lemelson Foundation, $30,000 (07/15/2020–07/14/2022)
20. Phase II: A Novel 2D MoS₂ Sponge Oil-Water Separator (MDSOS), PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (55%), Co-PI: Dr. Yeonwoong Jung (45%) and Dr. Jae-Hoon Hwang, US Environmental Protection Agency, Grant Number: SU-83948901, $75,000 (04/01/2019 – 03/31/2022)
21. Black water characterization and determination for low tier water applications, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), Mainstream Engineering Corporation (Subcontract No. AR0051; Government Prime Contract No. W56HZV-21-C-0051), $50,000 (06/02/2021 – 10/11/2021)
22. Phase I: Desalination using 2D MoS₂ Nano-solar Evaporator, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Co-PIs: Dr. Yeonwoong Jung and Dr. Jae-Hoon Hwang, US Environmental Protection Agency, Grant Number: SU840162, $25,000 (12/01/2020–11/30/2021)
23. Effective Detecting and Remediating Mercury Using Polyelectrolyte Nanofiber Membranes with Carbon Nanotubes and Platinum Nanoparticles, PI: Dr. Lei Zhai (50%), co-PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC (SRNS) (No. G-SOW-A-02189) on behalf of the Department of Energy (DOE) (Grant Number: DE-AC09-08SR22470), $204,517 (02/26/2020–07/31/2021)
24. Beneficial Use of CO₂ from Coal-fired Power Plants for Production of Animal Feeds, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), MicroBio Engineering Inc. on behalf of Department of Energy, $61,097 (08/01/2019-06/30/2021)
25. I-Corps: Molybdenum Disulfide Oil-Water Separator, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Co-PI: Dr. Yeonwoong Jung (50%), NSF, #1935619, $50,000 (06/15/2019 – 08/31/2021)
26. Emulsion Characterization Study for Improved Bilgewater Treatment and Management, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), Naval Research Laboratory on behalf of Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) (WP18-1114), Department of Defense (DoD), Award No.: N00173-18-1-G010, $248,032 (06/06/2018-05/05/2021) * This project was selected as the 2022 SERDP Project of the Year for Weapons Systems and Platforms.
27. A novel biohydrogen production using urine, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium, NASA Training Grant # NNX15AI10H, $25,000 (05/01/2019 to 12/31/2020)
28. I/UCRC Multi-functional Integrated System Technology (MIST), Conformal Electrochemical Sensors for Heavy Metal Detection, PI: Dr. Hyoung Jin Cho (50%), Co-PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), RM Tech, $25,000 (01/01/2019 – 08/31/2020)
29. A Biopolymer-based Simple Lead Check in Tap Water, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Co-PI: Dr. Hyoung Jin Cho and Dr. Jae-Hoon Hwang, US Environmental Protection Agency, Grant Number: SU83945801, $15,000 (11/01/2018–10/31/2019)
30. RET Site: Collaborative Multidisciplinary Engineering Design Experiences for Teachers (CoMET), PI: Dr. Hyoung Jin Cho, Co-PIs: Drs. Damla Turgut, Jihua Gou, Eleazar Vasquez, Damian Dechev, Mingjie Lin, Yier Jin, Woo Hyoung Lee (5%), and Reza Abdolvand, National Science Foundation, Award Number: 1611019, $595,702 (09/01/2016 to 05/31/2020)
31. Molybdenum Disulfide Oil Water Separator (MDSOS), PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (60%), Co-PI: Dr. Yeonwoong Jung (40%), University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, on behalf of NSF (CNS-1735841), $2,550 (02/11/2019 – 05/02/2019)
32. Surface Investigation of Silicate Corrosion Control Mechanisms and Impact on Lead Corrosion using Microelectrodes, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), PQ Corporation, $46,227 (05/21/2018-03/31/2019)
33. A Novel 2D MoS₂ Sponge Oil-Water Separator (MDSOS), PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (55%), Co-PI: Dr. Yeonwoong Jung and Dr. Jae-Hoon Hwang, US Environmental Protection Agency, Grant Number: SU839263-01, $15,000 (02/01/2018–01/31/2019)
34. Development of Electrochemical Microsensor System for Heavy Metal Monitoring in Soil and Groundwater, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (50%), Co-PI: Dr. Hyoung Jin Cho, ENPLUS Co., Ltd. under “Geo-Advanced Innovative Action” Program, South Korea (Project No. 2016000540003), $121,702 (05/10/2016–03/31/2018)
35. Sustainable Energy Production from Oily Liquid Wastes using Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs), PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC), NASA Training Grant # NNX15AI10H, $25,000 (08/21/2017 to 08/20/2018)
36. Bacterial Enumeration and Bacterial Endotoxin Testing, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (60%), Co-PI: Dr. Anwar Sadmani, Mainstream Engineering Corporation (No. DLA0063, U.S. Government Prime Contract No. SP4701-17-P-0063), $11,500 (7/14/2017 – 2/28/2018)
37. Bacterial Enumeration and Bacterial Endotoxin Testing, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (60%), Co-PI: Dr. Anwar Sadmani, Mainstream Engineering Corporation (No. AR0092, U.S. Government Prime Contract No. W81XWH-16-C-0092), $7,500 (12/19/2016 – 4/11/2017)
38. Renewable Microalgal Hydrogen Production, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC), NASA Training Grant # NNX15AI10H, $44,000 (09/01/2016 to 08/31/2017)
39. Optimization of Struvite Crystallization and Ammonia Recovery, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), Vencore Services and Solutions, Inc. on behalf of NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Grant Number: NNK11EA08C, $10,000 (08/01/2016 – 08/31/2017)
40. Micelle Stability Characterization, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), Battelle Memorial Institute (TCN 16-009: PO541161) under Contract No. W911NF-11-D-0001 with the Army Research Office, $37,962 (4/25/2016–9/30/2016)
41. NIFA Centers of Excellence: Multifunctional Surface/Sub-Surface/Systemic Therapeutic (CoE:MS3T) Technology for HLB Management, PD: Dr. Swadeshmukul Santra, Co-PD: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (15%) (one of 4 Co-PDs), Citrus Disease Research and Extension (CDRE) (grant no. 2016-70016-24828/project accusation no. 1008984), USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), $2,075,000 (02/01/2016 to 01/31/2019)
42. A Novel Symbiotic Micro-Algae Recovery Technology (SMART) for Sustainable Water Management and Biofuel Production, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Grant Number: NNX15AN65A, $65,000 (07/01/2015 to 12/31/2016)
43. Post-Construction Water Quality Evaluation of the Imperial Lakes Water Treatment Plant, PI: Dr. Steve Duranceau, Co-PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (40%), Board of County Commissioners of Polk County, WA No. 14-058-02, $54,600 (11/10/2014 – 12/31/2016)
44. Algae Biofuel Osmosis Dewatering (ABODE): A novel process for biofuel feedstock generation and advances in microalgae separation using forward osmosis, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), US Environmental Protection Agency, Grant Number: SU836132, $15,000 (09/01/2015 – 08/31/2016)
45. Algae as a Sustainable Life Support System during Long Duration Space Missions, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC), NASA Training Grant # NNX15AI10H, $5,250 (8/1/2015–7/31/2016)
46. Microsensor Oil-in-Water Emulsion Characterization Investigation, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), Battelle Memorial Institute (TCN 15-030: PO486034) under Contract No. W911NF-11-D-0001 with the Army Research Office, $45,483 (7/1/2015–9/30/2015)
47. Use of Algal Blooms in Florida – Potentials for Regional Biofuel Production, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (100%), In-House Research Grant, Office of Research & Commercialization, University of Central Florida, $7,500 (3/1/2014 – 2/29/2016)
48. The Graywater Recycling System and Related Water Quality Standard, PI: Dr. Woo Hyoung Lee (60%), Co-PI: Dr. Andrew A. Randall, Mainstream Engineering Corporation on behalf of U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center under Contract No. W911QY-12-C-0003, $41,167 (9/1/2013 – 8/14/2014)

Research Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

1. Research and development agreement between UCF and Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, South Korea (6/1/2024 to 5/31/2027)
2. General Agreement for collaboration between the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Dongguk University, South Korea (3/16/2024 to 3/15/2027)
3. General Agreement for collaboration between the University of Central Florida (UCF), Korea Institute of Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and The University of Suwon, South Korea (8/16/2023 to 8/15/2026)
4. General Agreement for collaboration between the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Apeejay Stya University, India (8/9/2022 to 8/11/2028)
5. Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between UCF and The Naval Surface Warfare Center – Carderock Division (NSWCCD), Bilgewater Remediation Research and Development, Agreement No. NCRADA-NSWCCA-17-299 (10/30/2017 to 10/29/2020)

Patents

• Screen-Printed Dual-Mode PFAS Sensors, Inventor: W.H. Lee, J. Baik, L. Zhai, Mauel-Alejandro, R.U., E. Hasegawa, and N. Kanekawa
• TMD-biopolymer composite sensor for manganese detection, Inventor: W.H. Lee, J. Baik, E. Hasegawa, and N. Kanekawa (US provisional patent application No. 19/186,837 filed on 04/23/2025, Japanese patent application no. 2024-096599 on 6/14/2024; Canadian patent application on 6/19/2024)
• Phloem-based delivery of therapeutics (Patent No. US 12,137,647), Inventors: S. Santra, W.H. Lee, S. Rajaraman, Y. Xu., and M.G.N. Campos, Issue date: 11/12/2024
• Sensor Device with Biopolymer-Metal Composite Film and Related Methods (Patent No. US11782013B2), Inventors: H.J. Cho, W.H. Lee, X. Wang, J-H. Hwang, P. Pawan, Issue date: 10/10/2023
• Solid state amperometric chloramine sensor (Patent No. US9586814B2), Inventors: Jonathan G. Pressman, Woo Hyoung Lee, and David G. Wahman, Issue date: 03/07/2017
• Apparatus for Oil Collection and Recovery from Oil Pollution in the Ocean (South Korea 10-0939107)
• Apparatus for Treating Wastewater using Membrane (South Korea 10-2005-0089189)
• Apparatus and Method for Treating Wastewater using Membrane (South Korea 10-2005-0034399)