Chun Yen Wong, Ph.D.

Education and Professional Development

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas
M.S, Civil Engineering, University of Arkansas
B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas

Registrations and Professional Affiliations

Arkansas Engineer-in-Training #6968

Summary of Professional Experience

Dr. Wong's experience includes technical support and consultation in environmental litigation cases, use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Microsoft Access to manage and present field and laboratory data, investigation of the migration of dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) and light nonaqueous phase liquid in the subsurface and determination of consequences due to co-mingling of both nonaqueous phase liquids, assessment of site releases, and performance of vapor-liquid equilibrium of dissolved compounds calculations.

Representative Experience

Dr. Wong's Ph.D. project, Consequences Analysis of Produced Fluids Spills and Risk Index Generation for Tallgrass Prairie Preserve with GIS, involved development of a physical transport model to calculate the extent of a soil-surface spill and use of the simplified natural resource damage assessment model to identify potential receptors and estimate remediation and restoration costs incurred from spills. A computer program (written in Matlab and ArcMap-Visual Basic for Applications [VBA]) was also developed to allow risk managers to use a risk index map as a quantitative risk-based decision making tool for operating risks minimization. Her class projects included designing chemical unit operations (reactor, pump, pipeline, and heat exchanger) and performing engineering economic analysis. Her laboratory work included assisting Lab III students on experiments such as gas chromatography analysis, packed column, distillation column process control, and vapor-liquid separation. She also taught a computer methods drill (Matlab) and graded assignments and programs.
As a civil engineering research and graduate assistant, Dr. Wong's master project, Analysis of Fluorescent Dye Properties for the Suitability as Partitioning Tracers , involved analysis of fluorescent dyes to determine what types of dyes were suitable in estimating DNAPL saturation in contaminated ground water sites. Retardation factors of dyes obtained from laboratory column tests were applied in a mathematic model to calculate DNAPL saturation in the soil column. Class projects included visiting and designing water/wastewater treatment plans and conducting microbiology tests for wastewater treatment. Laboratory experience included assisting students on environmental laboratory testing (e.g., biochemical oxygen demand and total dissolved solids tests).
Dr. Wong assisted professors and researchers in analyzing rice and preparing technical paper data as a Food Science Department research assistant in a Rice Processing Laboratory.
Dr. Wong assisted all students in solving calculus problems as a mathematics tutor in a Mathematics Department.
During a summer internship as an environmental design engineer at TapanAm Associated, Inc., Dr. Wong secured a $30,000 contract from HDR Engineering for the Kansas City Missouri Biosolids Master Plan Project. She was involved in site inspection, progress meetings, information gathering, and evaluation of existing wastewater treatment facility safety policies and procedures with City Hall officers, site operators, and consulting engineers. She subcontracted on a data analysis project for the Environmental Engineering Division at Black and Veatch, LLP. She entered and analyzed field data with Microsoft Access.
Dr. Wong is experienced in Windows-based personal computer software, including: Microstation, TK solver, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), ArcView 8.3, Microsoft Access, and Surfer; coding in VBA (writing scripts to customize functions for specific applications in ArcMap-ArcView); using ArcView and ArcCatalog to manipulate, edit, and obtain necessary information from map layers; coding in Matlab to solve fluid physical transport or other processes; and using Provision II to simulate chemical process design.
Dr. Wong is able to communicate and write in English, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), and Malay.
Dr. Wong has attended:
- ESRI International Conference 2005 (GIS), San Diego, California (July 2005)
- ESRI International Conference 2004 (GIS), San Diego, California (August 2004)
- 11th International Petroleum Environmental Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, poster presentation (October 2003)
- Pollution Prevention Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas (September 2000)
- Environmental Safari Conference, Hot Spring, Arkansas (October 2000)
- 1999 Waste and Environmental Research Consortium Design Contest, Las Cruses, New Mexico

Publications and Presentations

Thoma, G.J., L. Zambrano, C.Y. Wong, K.L. Sublette, and K.E. Duncan. 2006. Probabilistic Risk and Reliability Analysis of Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in Sensitive Ecosystem. The 2006 Annual Meeting of American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Abstract and Upcoming Poster Presentation on November 14.
Thoma, G.J., C.Y. Wong, and L. Zambrano. 2006. "Chapter 6: Consequences Analysis of Produced Fluids Spills and Risk Index Generation for the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve." Risk Reduction and Soil Ecosystem Restoration in an Active Oil Producing Area in an Ecologically Sensitive Setting. Final Report submitted to U.S. Department of Energy (DE-FC26-01BC15332).
Thoma, G.J., L. Zambrano, and C.Y. Wong. 2006. "Chapter 5: Probabilistic Reliability Modeling for Oil Exploration & Production (E&P) Facilities in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve." Risk Reduction and Soil Ecosystem Restoration in an Active Oil Producing Area in an Ecologically Sensitive Setting. Final Report submitted to U.S. Department of Energy (DE-FC26-01BC15332).
Wong, C.Y., G.J. Thoma, K.L. Sublette, and K.E. Duncan. 2004. "Generating the Oil Exploration and Production Risk Index Map of Tallgrass Prairie Preserve to Serve as an Environmental Risk Management Tool." Abstract and Poster Presentation at 11th International Petroleum Environmental Conference.
Wong, C.Y., G.J. Thoma, K.L. Sublette, and K.E. Duncan. 2003. "Estimating the Aerial Extent of Spilled Fluids on Soil Surface with GIS Based Physical Model." Abstract and Poster Presentation at 10th International Petroleum Environmental Conference.
Wong, C.Y. 2001. "Permeable Reactive Barrier for Groundwater Remediation." Technical Paper and Platform Presentation at 70th Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Water Works & Water Environment Association.
Wong, C.Y. 2005. Consequences Analysis of Produced Fluids Spills and Risk Index Generation for the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Doctoral Dissertation. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Wong, C.Y. 2002. Analysis of Fluorescent Dye Properties for the Suitability as Partitioning Tracers. Master Thesis. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Honors and Awards

10th International Petroleum Environmental Conference (won Third Place in poster presentation: "Estimating the Aerial Extent of Spilled Fluids on Soil Surface with GIS Based Physical Model"), Houston, Texas (November 2003)
Arkansas Water Works and Water Environment Association's 70th Annual Conference (won First Place in technical paper presentation: "Permeable Reactive Barrier for Groundwater Remediation"), Hot Spring, Arkansas (May 2001)
Philip E. Bocquet Scholarship recipient (1999)