Hi there! I’m Tao Wen (pronounced “Tau When”), an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Syracuse University.
My research focuses on water and elemental cycles in coupled human and natural systems. Since joining Syracuse University in 2020, I have designed, built, and directed the Syracuse University Hydrogeochemistry And eNvironmental Data Sciences (HANDS) and Noble Gases in Earth Systems Tracing (NEST) Research Laboratories.
In the WEN Research Group, we analyze water quality parameters, isotopic compositions of selected elements (oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen), and noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) using ion chromatography, optical emission spectrometry, water isotope analyzers, and mass spectrometry. We also develop and apply machine learning and geostatistical tools to study Earth-surface systems and human impacts such as energy extraction and urbanization.
I teach water-related and data science-related courses for undergraduate and graduate students, including Introduction to Earth and Environmental Data Analysis (EAR 201), Water and Our Environment (EAR 205), Hydrogeology (EAR 401/601), Environmental Aqueous Geochemistry (EAR 419/619), and Machine Learning in Earth and Environmental Sciences (EAR 400/600). Many teaching materials and online learning modules are publicly available on the Education page.