About

Who We Are
The HEDGE research group, led by Dr. Sangchul Hwang, is a dedicated team of researchers, playing a leadership role in advancing science and engineering for environmental sustainability.

Our Mission
HEDGE is committed to advancing environmental sustainability through innovative research and development, aiming to improve livability, public health, and the quality of ecosystems. By fostering collaboration and applying cutting-edge science and engineering, we strive to create lasting, positive impacts on communities and the environment.

Our Vision
HEDGE envisions a future where environmental sustainability drives enhanced livability, improved public health, and thriving ecosystems, fostering a healthier and more resilient world for generations to come.

Our Journey
Coming soon…

Contact Information
Dr. San Hwang
(512) 245-3858
sanhwang@txstate.edu

Support and Recognition
Below is a representative example of the funded research that Dr. Hwang has secured since assuming a professor position at Texas State University in Fall 2020.

  • Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Principal), Cho, Eunsang (Co-Principal), Kim, Namwon (Co-Principal), Mandal, Sujata (Co-Principal). Multidisciplinary Research and Workforce Development on Fate and Transport of PFAS, DOE, Federal, $3,520,000. 2024 – 2027.
  • Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Principal). Biologically Active Pervious Structure (BAPS): A sustainable technology for runoff water quality improvement with micro- and nano-plastics, TXST Formosa Innovation Award, Texas State University, $15,000. 2024 – 2025.
  • Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Principal), Gurav, Ranjit (Co-Principal), Minifie, Jana Roberta (Co-Principal). Biologically Active Pervious Structure for Stormwater Management, NSF, Federal, $50,000. 2024 – 2025.
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  • Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Principal), Song, In-Hyouk (Co-Principal), Ji, Chang (Co-Principal), Mandal, Sujata (Co-Principal). Climate impact on resiliency and safety of in-situ remediation for recalcitrant contaminants, Department of Energy, Federal, $350,000. 2024 – 2025.
  • Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Principal). E. coli and nutrient reduction with Biologically Active Float, The City of Kyle, Municipal, $249,264. 2023 – 2025.
  • Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Principal), Song, In-Hyouk (Co-Principal), Ji, Chang (Co-Principal). Sustainable, Safe, and Climate Resilient Remediation Site Operations, Department of Energy, Federal, $319,856. 2023 – 2024.
  • Pan, Xi (Principal), Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Co-Principal). Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) on Cognitive Function in Firefighters in Central Texas, Texas State University, $30,000. 2023 – 2024.
  • Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Principal), Yeon, Jung (Co-Principal), Shi, Xijun (Co-Principal), Ozbakkaloglu, Togay (Co-Principal), Kulesza, Stacey (Co-Principal), Carvallo, Andres (Co-Principal). Professional Services and Studies on Green and Technology-Enhanced Infrastructure Management and Firefighter’s Health, Hays County, Texas. $167,454. 2023 – 2024.
  • Yeon, Jung Heum (Principal), Ozbakkaloglu, Togay (Co-Principal), Hwang, Sangchul (Co-Principal), Song, In-Hyouk (Co-Principal). Development of IoT-Based Snow Removal System for Preemptive Response to Heavy Snow and Black Ice, Seoul Institute of Technology (SIT), $326,551. 2021 – 2023.

Publications and Research
Below is a representative example of the peer-reviewed publications that HEDGE has made at Texas State University in Fall 2020.

(*Graduate Mentee, **Undergraduate Mentee, ***Postdoc Mentee)

1.      Swathy, R., Geethalakshmi, V., Pazhanivelan, S., Kannan, P., Annamalai***, S., Hwang, S. 2024. Real-time nitrogen monitoring and management to augment N use efficiency and ecosystem sustainability – A review. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 16, 100466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100466

2.      Hwang, S., Johnson, C.M., Charles, J., Biediger-Friedman, L. 2024. Food Delivery Apps and Their Potential to Address Food Insecurity in Older Adults: A Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 21, 1197. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091197

3.      Babatunde*, E., Gurav***, R., Hwang, S. 2024. Pistia stratiotes L. Biochar for Sorptive Removal of Aqueous Inorganic Nitrogen. Materials 17, 3858. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153858

Read more Publications and Research

4.      Mandal*, S., Gurav***, R., Hwang, S. 2024. Seed gum-based polysaccharides hydrogels for sustainable agriculture: A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules263, 130339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130339

5.      Khondoker*, M., Gurav***, R., Hwang, S. 2024. Utilization of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Biomass as Eco-friendly Sorbent for Petroleum Oil Spill Cleanup. AQUA – Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society 73(2), 183-199. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2024.243

6.      Gurav***, R., Hwang, S., Bhatia, S.K., Mandal, S., Yang, Y.-H. 2023. Exopolysaccharide production using pinewood hydrolysate-based substrates for psychrophilic bacterium isolated from Svalbard glacier. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-05039-2

7.      Gurav***, R., Mandal, S., Smith, L., Shi, S.Q., Hwang, S. 2023. The potential of self-activated carbon for adsorptive removal of toxic phenoxyacetic acid herbicide from water. Chemosphere 339, 139715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139715

8.      Mandal, S., Hwang, S., Marpu, S.B., Omary, M.A., Prybutok, V., Shi, S.Q. 2023. Bioinspired synthesis of silver nanoparticles for the remediation of toxic pollutants and enhanced antibacterial activity. Biomolecules 13, 1054. http://doi.org/10.3390/biom13071054

9.      Babatunde*, E., Gurav***, R., Hwang, S. 2023. Recent Advances in Invasive Aquatic Plant Biomass Pretreatments for Value Addition. Waste and Biomass Valorization. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-023-02186-5

10.    Khondoker*, M., Mandal, S., Gurav***, R., Hwang, S. 2023. Freshwater Shortage, Salinity Increase, and Global Food Production: A Need for Sustainable Irrigation Water Desalination—A Scoping Review. Earth4, 223-240. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth4020012

11.    Mandal, S., Hwang, S., Shi, S. 2022. Guar gum, a low-cost sustainable biopolymer, for wastewater treatment: A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 226, 368-382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.039

12.    Hwang, S., Yeon, J.H. 2022. Fly ash-added, sea water-mixed pervious concrete: Compressive strength, permeability, and phosphorus removal. Materials 15, 1407. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15041407

13.    Hwang, S., Ozbakkaloglu, T., Kazmi***, S.M.S., Munir***, M.J. 2022. Influence of Off-Spec Fly Ash and Surfactant-Coated Nano-Iron-Oxide on the Fresh and Hardened Properties of Cement Pastes: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Building Engineering 48, 103976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103976

14.    Hwang, S., Moreno Cortes, C. 2021. Properties of mortar and pervious concrete with co-utilization of coal fly ash and waste glass powder as partial cement replacements. Construction & Building Materials 270, 121415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121415