Scholars@Duke
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Mark Wiesner

Mark Wiesner

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
wiesner@duke.edu
Box 90287, Durham, NC 27708-0287
120 Hudson Hall, Durham, NC 27708-0287

Overview

Wiesner's research interests include membrane processes, nanostructured materials, transport and fate of nanomaterials in the environment, nano plastics, colloidal and interfacial processes, and environmental systems analysis.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering · 2015 - Present Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering · 2006 - Present Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering
Professor in the Division of Environmental Natural Sciences · 2024 - Present Environmental Natural Science, Nicholas School of the Environment
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society · 2017 - Present Duke Science & Society, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News

Published June 18, 2025
Microplastics Are Everywhere. Here’s What Duke Research Is Doing About Health Concerns
Published November 16, 2023
Which Duke Scholars Made the Most Cited List?
Published December 9, 2022
Modeling a ‘River of Plastic’

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Recent Publications

Life cycle considerations for membrane fabrication: Linking polymer–solvent selection to plastic persistence and end-of-life trade-offs

Journal Article Journal of Membrane Science · July 1, 2026 Polymeric ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes are crucial for water treatment but produce growing amounts of plastic waste at end-of-life (EoL). While recent studies emphasize green solvents and bio-based polymers, the influence of disposal pathw ... Full text Cite

Abiotic Hydrolysis of Microplastics: Influence of Polymer Chain Scission on Particle Fragmentation and Dissolved Organic Carbon Release.

Journal Article Environmental science & technology · May 2026 Understanding how plastics degrade and fragment, releasing microplastics, nanoplastics, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), is crucial for their risk assessment. This study assesses abiotic hydrolytic aging of polymer powders (40-700 μm) under OECD guideli ... Full text Cite

Photocontrol of Goethite Crystal Facet Exposure: Implications for Phosphate Binding in Water and Sediment Systems.

Journal Article Environmental science & technology · May 2026 The environmental fate of phosphorus in shallow aquatic systems is closely linked to the properties of iron (oxyhydr)oxide minerals such as goethite, which can bind phosphate and influence its mobility. This study investigates how light exposure during min ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants

Duke University Program in Environmental Health

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences · 2019 - 2029

The other plastic problem: weathering and plastic additives synergize to impact organismal health

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. · 2025 - 2028

NSF Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr)

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2022 - 2027

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Education

Johns Hopkins University · 1985 Ph.D.
University of Iowa · 1980 M.S.
Coe College · 1978 B.A.

External Links

Wiesner Research Group Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT) International Network For Researching, Advancing, and Assessing Materials for Environmental Sustainability (INFRAMES)