Meet the Editor: Stories behind Journal Publications

Publishing scientific research is a critical component of advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and contributing to the academic community. This seminar aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the publication process, offering valuable insights for researchers at all stages of their careers. The speaker will begin by exploring the importance of disseminating scientific findings and the role it plays in academic and professional growth. The seminar will then detail the editorial workflow, shedding light on each step from manuscript submission to final publication. Participants will gain an understanding of the criteria used by editors to assess submissions, including originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope. The presentation will also address common pitfalls and potential reasons for rejection, such as methodological flaws, lack of novelty, or poor presentation. Through this seminar, attendees will be better equipped to navigate the publication process, enhance the quality of their submissions, and increase their chances of successful publication. The speaker is the Editor in Chief for both Journal of Hazardous Materials (IF 11.3) and Water Environment Research (one of the oldest water journals, established in 1928).

Speaker Bio

Dr. Zhen (Jason) He is the Laura & William Jens Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). Prior to this, he was a Professor and Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, as well as an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He received his BS from Tongji University, his MS from the Technical University of Denmark, and his PhD from WashU. Dr. He’s research focuses on technological solutions for resource recovery from wastewater. He has published more than 290 journal papers, which have received over 27,000 citations, and he has an H-index of 90 according to Google Scholar. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from ASCE, the Green Talent Award from the BMBF in Germany, designation as a 2018 Highly Cited Researcher, the Dean’s Award for Research Excellence at Virginia Tech, and the 2025 Frederick George Pohland Medal from AEESP/AAEES. Dr. He is an elected Fellow of both the International Water Association (IWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF). He is a member of the WEF Fellow Focus Group, the AEESP Foundation Board, and the Managing Committees of the IWA Sludge Management Specialist Group and Membrane Technology Specialist Group.