- 2013F South Engineering Research Center
- Phone (205) 348-6786
- Fax (205) 348-0783
Dr. Jialai Wang
Professor
Contact
- 2013F South Engineering Research Center
- phone (205) 348-6786
- fax (205) 348-0783
Research Areas
Education
- Ph.D., Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering and Advanced Materials, University of Akron, 2003
- M.S., Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, China, 1996
- B.S., Civil Engineering, Anhui University of Science and Technology, China, 1993
Dr. Jialai Wang’s research focuses on low-carbon construction materials, sustainable manufacturing, and multifunctional infrastructure technologies. Trained in fracture mechanics, composites, and interface science, he developed a strong foundation in materials behavior and structural performance that now informs his work on decarbonizing the built environment.
A major focus of Dr. Wang’s research is CO₂ mineralization and low-carbon cementitious materials. His group develops carbonation-based approaches that permanently sequester CO₂ while converting calcium-bearing materials and industrial wastes into higher-value supplementary cementitious materials and other construction products. This work has advanced from fundamental research to engineering validation and commercialization, including technology licensed to CarbonCure Technologies.
Another important area of his work is thermal energy storage in construction materials. His group has pioneered methods to microencapsulate phase change materials using industrial-waste cenospheres, enabling cementitious materials and building components to store and release thermal energy passively for improved energy efficiency.
More recently, Dr. Wang has been advancing convergent thermochemical manufacturing, an emerging platform that integrates organic and inorganic waste streams to co-produce energy, nanocarbon, carbon-sequestering products, and high-performance cementitious materials. This direction builds on his earlier PopTube research, which demonstrated direct growth of carbon nanotubes on engineering materials.
As a Principal Investigator, Professor Wang has led $15.2 million in competitively awarded research funding from major agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF, $9.0M), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE, $3.5M), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, $0.8M), and other sponsors ($1.9M). As a Co-PI, he has contributed to an additional $9.0 million in NSF-funded projects. Dr. Wang’s research has produced 120+ peer-reviewed journal papers, 6,800+ citations, an H-index of 47, and 6 granted U.S. patents.
Affiliated Areas
Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, Center for Water Quality Research, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
Selected Publications
- Weibo Tan, Peiyuan Chen, Yonghui Wang, Peng Qian, Zeren Chen, Jialai Wang*, 2025. Preparation of performance-enhanced alkali-activated slag using a plant-derived chelator, Cement and Concrete Composites 165, 106332.
- Ismail, A., Bahmani, M., Wang, X., Aday, A., Odukomaiya, A. and Wang, J*., 2024. Enabling thermal energy storage in structural cementitious composites with a novel phase change material microcapsule featuring an inorganic shell and a bio-inspired silica coating. Journal of Energy Storage, 83, p.110677.
- Wang, J., 2023. Renewable admixtures for cementitious compositions. U.S. Patent No. 11,814,321.
- Wang, J., 2021. Microencapsulation of materials using cenospheres. U.S. Patent No. 11,142,909.
- Wang, J., and Qian, X., 2016. Addition of carbon dioxide to concrete mixtures. U.S. Patent No. 10,392,305. (licensed for commercial application)
Awards and Honors
- Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
- Faculty Preeminence in Research Excellence and Innovation, College of Engineering, The University of Alabama, 2025.
- Top 2% Scientist by Stanford University rankings of global scientists and engineers since 2020.
- Best Paper Award, the 8th International Conference on Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites in Civil Engineering (CICE 2016) in Hong Kong, China on 14-16 December 2016.
- Excellence in Research – Mid-Career Scholar, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Alabama, 2019.
Dr. Wang's Impact
Wang Elected Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers
Dr. Jialai Wang has been elected as a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, one of the organization’s highest professional distinctions. Fewer than 3% of ASCE members receive...
Wang’s Lab Receives Global Interest During 2025 GCCA Innovandi Open Challenge
Dr. Jialai Wang, professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, and his research team were recognized at the 2025 Global Cement and Concrete Association Innovandi Open Challenge...
UA Professor Upcycling Waste for Green Construction and Jobs
In a recently awarded grant project led by The University of Alabama, researchers will upcycle agricultural and industrial waste into affordable and greener construction materials. The project, “Transforming Wastes Into Economic Assets for Sustainability, Resilience, and Prosperity by a Novel Negative Emission Technology,” is a $6 million grant through the NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program focused on building climate resilience and strengthening STEM education in regions that have traditionally received less funding.