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Welcome to my personal page! I am currently a postdoctoral appointee at Argonne National Laboratory. Prior to joining ANL, I was a Keegstra fellow at UW-Madison and a visiting postdoc fellow and research affiliate at Princeton. My research is in the field of process systems engineering and molecular modeling, which deals with systematic decision-making from the molecular scale to the process scale. Specifically, my research focuses on developing methods for process synthesis, process intensification, product design, optimization, and self-assembly with applications to Energy and Sustainability.

PhD Thesis: Methods and Algorithms for Process Synthesis and Intensification using Building Blocks. Texas A&M University.

Research Philosophy: My research covers: (1) modeling (representation of design space), (2) solution methods (exploration of design space), and (3) interpretation (explanation of optimal design). My research experience suggests that these three elements are interconnected with each other. Combining modeling and solutions methods can lead to adaptive sampling (active learning), which trains predictive model for design space representation and uses the trained model to suggest the direction for exploration. Also, good modeling can lead to special structures for efficient exploration using solution methods. Combining modeling and interpretation can indicate which model best represents the design space with physical meaning and can help designer choose the right model. Combing modeling, solution methods, and interpretation can indicate limit case during exploration and also model external interpretation (e.g., minimum work consumption in thermodynamic law) to reduce the design space.

Degree, Employment, and Affiliation Verification:
TAMU Degree: Office of Register; TAMU ID: ljptamu@tamu.edu
UW-Madison ID: jli2367@wisc.edu
Princeton ID: jl8736@princeton.edu
Argonne: https://www.anl.gov/staff-directory

J1. R. Gomes Neto, J. Li, J. Xu, N. Iloeje, C. Liu, C. Amanchukwu. Integrating CO2 Capture and Electrochemical Reduction in Nonaqueous Electrolytes. Under Review.
J2. J. Li, R.C. Van Lehn. Effects of Acid Dissociation and Ionic Solutions on the Aggregation of 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid. Under Review.
J3. J. Li, R.C. Van Lehn, C.T. Maravelias. An Explainable Classification Framework for Determining and Understanding the Suitability of Solvent Extraction for Bioproduct Recovery. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 2024, 12(14), 5436–5446. [Link]
J4. J. Li, M.M.F. Hasan. A Parametric Approach to Identify Synergistic Domains of Process Intensification for Reactive Separation. Chem. Eng. Sci. 2023, 267, 118337. [Link]
J5. S. Qin, S. Jiang, J. Li, P. Balaprakash, R.C. Van Lehn, V. Zavala. Capturing Molecular Interactions in Graph Neural Networks: A Case Study in Multi-Component Phase Equilibrium. Digital Discovery. 2023. [Link]
J6. J. Li, C.T. Maravelias, R.C. Van Lehn. Adaptive Conformer Sampling for Property Prediction Using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2022, 61(25), 9025–9036. [Link]
J7. S.E. Demirel, J. Li, M.M.F. Hasan. Membrane Separation Process Design and Intensification. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2021, 60(19), 7197-7217. [Link]
J8. M. S. Monjur, S.E. Demirel, J. Li, M.M.F. Hasan. SPICE_MARS: A Process Synthesis Framework for Membrane-Assisted Reactive Separations. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2021, 60(20), 7635–7655. [Link]
J9. S.E. Demirel, J. Li, M. El-Halwagi, M.M.F. Hasan. Sustainable Process Intensification using Building Blocks. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 2020, 8(48), 17664-17679. [Link]
J10. A. Arora, J. Li, M. S. Zantye, M.M.F. Hasan. Design Standardization of Unit Operations for Reducing the Capital Intensity and Cost of Small‐scale Chemical Processes. AIChE J., 2020, 66(2), e16802. [Link]
J11. S.E. Demirel, J. Li, M.M.F. Hasan. Systematic Process Intensification. Curr. Opin. Chem., 2019, 22,1-6. (Invited Review Paper for the "Nanotechnology: water-energy nexus and Process Systems Engineering: process intensification" special issue) [Link]
J12. S.E. Demirel, J. Li, M.M.F. Hasan. A General Framework for Process Synthesis, Integration, and Intensification. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2019, 58(15), 5950-5967. (Invited Paper for the “Frameworks for Process Intensification and Modularization” special issue) [Link]
J13. M.M.F., Hasan, S.E. Demirel, J. Li. A Building Block Approach to Process Intensification. Chem. Eng. Prog., March 2019, 115(3), 35–43. (Invited Review Paper) [Link]
J14. J. Li, S.E. Demirel, M.M.F. Hasan. Building Block-based Synthesis and Intensification of Work and Heat Exchange Networks. Processes, 2019, 7(1), 23. (Invited Feature Paper) [Link]
J15. J. Li, S.E. Demirel, M.M.F. Hasan. Process Synthesis using Block Superstructure with Automated Flowsheet Generation and Optimization. AIChE J., 2018, 64(8), 3082. (Invited in the inaugural “Futures” issue of the AIChE Journal and Top 10% Downloaded Paper between 01/2018 and 12/2019) [Link]
J16. J. Li, S.E. Demirel, M.M.F. Hasan. Fuel Gas Network Synthesis using Block Superstructure. Processes, 2018, 6(3), 23. (Editor's Choice Article and Invited Feature Paper) [Link]
J17. J. Li, S.E. Demirel, M.M.F. Hasan. Process Integration using Block Superstructure. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2018, 57(12), 4377–4398. [Link]
J18. J. Li* , S.E. Demirel*, M.M.F. Hasan. Systematic Process Intensification using Building Blocks. Comput. Chem. Eng., 2017, 150, 2–38. (* indicates equal contribution; top 10% downloaded paper since 2017) [Link]
J19. J. Wang, L. Liu, J. Li, J. Du. Water Network Synthesis of Eco-industrial Park considering Intra-plant Pre-treatment. CIESC Journal, 2015, 66, 4910-4915. [Link]

D1. J. Li, R.C. Van Lehn, C.T. Maravelias. Economical Screening of Green Solvents for Separation of Bioproduct and Biofuel.
D2. S. Qin*, J. Li*, S. Omolabake, S.S. Shannon, V. Zavala, R.C. Van Lehn. A Data-driven Optimization Framework for Green Solvent Mixture Design.

C1. J. Li. Learning Hybrid Extraction and Distillation using Phenomena-based String Representation. 2024 International Conference on Foundations of Computer-Aided Process Design. 2024. Accepted.
C2. M. S. Monjur, S.E. Demirel, J. Li, M.M.F. Hasan. A Computer-Aided Platform for Simultaneous Process Synthesis and Intensification. In Proceedings of the 31st ESCAPE, Istanbul, June 6-9, 2021. [Link]
C3. A. Arora, J. Li, M. S. Zantye and M.M.F. Hasan. Process Design Frameworks for Economic Utilization of Small-scale and Unconventional Feedstocks. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Foundations of Computer-Aided Process Design, Denver, July 14-18, 2019. [Link]
C4. S.E. Demirel, J. Li, M.M.F. Hasan. Sustainable Process Intensification using Building Blocks. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Foundations of Computer-Aided Process Design, Denver, July 14-18, 2019. [Link]
C5. J. Li, S.E. Demirel, M.M.F. Hasan. Systematic Process Intensification involving Zeotropic Distillation. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Foundations of Computer-Aided Process Design, Denver, July 14-18, 2019. [Link]
C6. S.E. Demirel, J. Li, M.M.F. Hasan. A general framework for process synthesis, integration and intensification. In Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering, San Diego, July 1-5, 2018. [Link]
C7. J. Li, S.E. Demirel, M.M.F. Hasan. Simultaneous process synthesis and process intensification using building blocks. In Proceedings of the 27th ESCAPE, Barcelona, Spain, Oct 1-5, 2017. [Link]
C8. L. Liu, J. Wang, J. Li, Q. Meng, J. Du, F. Yang. Water networks synthesis for industrial parks involving inter-plant allocation. In Proceedings of the 12th International PSE Meeting and the 25th ESCAPE Joint Event, Copenhagen, Denmark, May 31-Jun 4, 2015. [Link]