I am Derek Ho, PhD, with a doctorate in Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in Microplastic methodology. I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and conduct microplastics research affiliated with Penn and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

 

As Dr. Microplastics, I am dedicated to studying the presence, transformation, and impacts of microplastics in the environment. My research explores how plastics degrade over time, interact with environmental factors, and move through air, water, and soil. Using analytical techniques such as fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy, I develop and evaluate methods to improve microplastic detection and monitoring.

 

Beyond the lab, I lead Plastic-Free Pals, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit focused on community-driven environmental research and education. Through litter cleanups and community science, we investigate the types and sources of plastic waste that can eventually break down into smaller particles, including microplastics. By connecting local observations with scientific research, we aim to turn environmental awareness into meaningful community action.

 

In addition to my field and lab work, I am deeply committed to educating the next generation about the critical issue of plastic pollution. In-conjunction with Wisconsin Seagrant, I developed the curriculum, designed to raise awareness about microplastics and their transport through processes in a typical wastewater treatment plants. This curriculum provides students with hands-on activities, scientific insights, and a deeper understanding of the challenges surrounding microplastic pollution.

 

In addition to my field and laboratory research, I am dedicated to educating the next generation on plastic pollution and sustainability. Partnering with Wisconsin Sea Grant, I pioneered the Plastic Panic! curriculum, which introduces students to the science of microplastics and their movement through wastewater treatment systems. The curriculum combines hands-on experiments with real-world case studies, equipping students with both scientific literacy and environmental awareness. To date, 23 educational kits have been distributed across the Great Lakes states, accessible through local Sea Grant resource libraries.

 

Building on this success, I am collaborating with South Carolina Sea Grant to launch an interactive, turn-based Marine Debris Transport simulation game for the classroom (Fall 2026) that models microplastic transport from local watersheds to the ocean. By blending environmental science with play-based learning, the game makes complex sustainability concepts engaging and accessible to students and community groups.

We recently launched the Microplastic Detect Kit, a classroom activity that allows students to visualize microplastics in bottled water right in their classrooms! We’re rolling it out in schools across Philadelphia and equipping educators with a flipped-classroom curriculum to help students explore this growing environmental challenge.

 

Across both initiatives, I emphasize empowerment by teaching the “7 Rs of Renewability” (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, Rot, Rethink), encouraging participants to take action at scales both large and small. Together, these projects reflect my commitment to merging science, education, and outreach to foster environmental stewardship, ensuring that research on plastic pollution not only advances knowledge but also mobilizes communities toward solutions that protect ecosystems and public health.

 

 

 

 

Publications:

1.    Ho et al. (2023). The glowing potential of Nile red for microplastics Identification: Science and mechanism of fluorescence staining, Microchemical Journal, 2023, 109708, ISSN 0026-265X.

> A comprehensive review of Nile Red staining mechanisms and applications for microplastic analysis.

 

2.    WI SeaGrant & Ho,D (2023). Plastic Panic “An exploration of Microplastic at the wastewater treatment plant” 

> A practical guide for teaching learners how to identify microplastics in wastewater treatment systems.

 

3.    Masura, J. & Ho, D. (2025)  Microplastic metrology: Current techniques, best practices, and recommendations for environmental analysis. In Plastics in the Sea (pp. 25-68). Academic Press.

> A meta-analysis of microplastic methodologies, from sampling and processing to analytical best practices.

 

4.    Ho, D., & Masura, J. (2025). Dyeing to Know: Harmonizing Nile Red Staining Protocols for Microplastic Identification. Colorants, 4(2), 20.

> A standardized methodology for harmonizing Nile Red staining protocols for microplastic identification.

 

5.    Ho et al. (2025). Shedding light on the polymer’s identity: Microplastic detection and identification through nile red staining and multispectral imaging (FIMAP), Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Volume 13, Issue 5,

> A multispectral fluorescence imaging device that uses machine learning to detect and classify the ten most common microplastics.

 

6.    Ho, D. (2026), Glow and behold: How weathering alters the surface, chemical and fluorescence properties of microplastics. Microplastics and Nanoplastics.

> An investigation into how weathering alters the physicochemical and fluorescence properties of microplastics.

 

7.    Ho, D. (2025), X Marks the spot: A microplastic treasure hunt (Citizen Science)  [In-Preparation]

> A citizen science educational activity where the community co-leads and co-investigates microplastic research 

 

8.    Ho, D. (202X)  Evaporative Drop Dynamics for Detecting Contaminants in Food and Water: Current Approaches and Future Directions   [In-Preparation]

> A literature review on distinguishing contaminants in food and water through evaporative drop dynamics.

 

9. Ho, D. (202X)  Monitoring of the co-occurence of microplastics and potentially toxic elements in Cobbs Creek   [In-Preparation]

> A year long study of emerging contaminants in an urban watershed

Research Gate / Google Scholar