Zhi Yang Soon

Dr. Zhi Yang Soon is an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. His research focuses on marine microplastics, antifouling coatings, and environmental pollution associated with ship hull maintenance and in-water cleaning activities. His work investigates the fate, transport, and ecological impacts of paint-derived particles and associated metal contaminants in aquatic environments, particularly in ports, estuaries, and coastal ecosystems.

Dr. Soon specializes in the identification and characterization of coating-derived microplastics using advanced analytical techniques including Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and ICP-MS. His research also examines the release of metals such as copper and zinc from marine coatings and their potential impacts on marine organisms and water quality. Through interdisciplinary approaches, his work contributes to improving the understanding of marine pollution sources and supporting the development of sustainable biofouling management practices.