Materials Chemistry Frontiers Blog

Position          Professor

Postdoc          2019–2021  The University of Texas at Austin (USA)

                       2017–2019  Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

Education       2014–2017  Nanjing Normal University                  Ph.D.

                       2011–2014  Nanjing Normal University                  M.Sc.

ORCID           0000-0003-0411-645X                        Google Scholar

An accomplishment I’m particularly proud of is the pioneering work on identifying the active sites of rare-earth-based transition metal oxides towards electrocatalytic oxygen evolution, published in Advanced Materials, 2023.

The person who has had the greatest influence on my research career is my postdoctoral supervisor Prof. John B. Goodenough at The University of Texas at Austin.

I always feel lucky that my Ph.D. and M.S. advisors directed me to the cutting-edge research fields.

I received the first funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2021.

Good work depends not only on good ideas and results but also on great writing and logic skills.

I advise my students to develop abilities including diligence, strong will, and thinking independently, which are crucial to success in their beginning research career.

A recent epiphany: where there is a will there is a way.

It is my favorite time when I travel with my wife and lovely son.

Position               Professor

Visiting Scholar   2016  National University of Singapore

Education            2009–2012  Nanjing University                         Ph.D.

                            2006–2009  Nanjing University                         M.Sc.

Group Website    http://www.groupwangjun.com/

ORCID                 0000-0003-1757-3705

The most important academic article that I published was in Science in 2021.

I received the first funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2013.

My favourite sport is swimming.

I enjoy thinking freely.

One of my favourite activities is playing with my kids.

One of my hidden talents is my patience.

One thing I cannot live without is hope.

An accomplishment I’m particularly proud of is that I have two daughters.

I am most passionate about my work in exploring a new research field because it is full of unknowns, fulfilling my curiosity.

Position           Professor

Education        2011–2016  Soochow University                         Ph.D.

I published my first academic article on the design and the synthesis of three new wide-bandgap conjugated polymers for efficient organic solar cells with a record-high open circuit voltage over 1 volt in Adv. Funct. Mater. back in 2012.

An accomplishment I’m particularly proud of is being hand in hand with my first love for over 15 years and building our warm family with a lovely daughter.

I am most passionate about my work in training young students because it is the core issue of education.

The most challenging part of my job is teaching students efficiently in accordance with their aptitude.

My favourite clothing brand is Arc’teryx, an outdoor brand utilizing the most advanced and functional materials for clothing design.

If I were not a scientist, I would bea sports player, dreaming to be drafted by the professional leagues.

One thing I cannot live without is my family, since home is a warm harbour.

The most important thing I learnt is that hard work pays off.

I advise my students to make their research work meaningful, useful and impactful.

Position           Assistant Professor

Education        2015–2018  Hong Kong University of Science                                                                and Technology                              Ph.D.

                        2012–2015  Zhejiang University                         M.Eng.

                        2008–2012  Zhengzhou University                     B.Eng.

Group Website           http://aie-zju.cn/

ORCID            0000-0001-7309-2506                        Google Scholar

An accomplishment I’m particularly proud of is having organized the 1st International Conference on Clusteroluminescence (ICC).

I am most passionate about my work in developing novel materials because I can create new things from nothing.

One of my dreams is to pursue pure and free academic research without external “noise”.

The motivation for my academic career is an irreparable Walkman in my childhood.

My favourite sport is swimming.

My favourite book is Ordinary World.

If I were not a scientist, I would be an aerospace engineer.

If I have a half-year holiday, I will go on a self-drive tour through Xinjiang and Tibet with my family.

The most important thing I learnt is self-discipline.

Position           Assistant Professor

Education        2010–2014  University of Cambridge             Ph.D.

ORCID            0000-0002-2553-2068                   Google Scholar

These rational molecular design rules enable us to develop novel fluorescent dyes and sensors with enhanced performance. A deep understanding of the structure–property relationships of fluorophores also permits us to reveal the photophysics and photochemistry of various fluorescent compounds.

Our research vision is to shift the chemistry of fluorophores from “trial-and-error” to molecular engineering, such that one gains the ultimate abilities to “design” tailored fluorescent properties to suit a given application.

I am most passionate about my work in understanding the working mechanism of fluorescent compounds because it is fascinating to play with light at the molecular scale.

I published my first academic article on the invisibility cloak in 2010, as a research engineer. It teaches me the importance of teamwork. I have since switched my research directions several times, for curiosity and fun!

My biggest motivation to do research is to uncover the secrets of the natural world.

I advise my students to be critical about any views in the pursuit of science, including those from me.

If I were not a scientist, I would be a teacher. I enjoy teaching and interacting with students.

My passion besides work is reading and travel.

My favorite time of day is early morning at home, with the sunrise and music.

One thing I cannot live without is my family.

The most important thing I learned from my parents is caring for others.

Position           Associate Professor

Postdoc           2010–2015  Northwestern University (USA)

Education        2004–2010  Institute of Physics, CAS                    Ph.D.

                        2000–2004  University of Science and                                                                             Technology of China                           B.Sc.

Website           https://jiang.lab.uic.edu/

ORCID            0000-0002-4570-180X                      Google Scholar 

An accomplishment I’m particularly proud of is developing a hybrid technique by combining scanning probe microscopy with optical spectroscopy to understand and predict the single-molecule processes at the angstrom scale.

I am most passionate about my work in pushing the spatial limit of chemical imaging because single-bond chemistry can be ultimately observed.

I have the highest respect for Prof. Richard P. Van Duyne. He was a role model and leader who asked hard questions and provided enthusiastic suggestions for paths forward while also appreciating each student or postdoc for who they were. Although Prof. Van Duyne passed away in 2019, his legacy lives on in the minds he molded where his passion for science lives on.

My favourite thing to do outside of work is traveling. I can explore the unknown world and learn more.

I chose chemistry as a career because chemistry can create new things.

A key experience in my education was having done multiple-major studies in multiple countries.

The biggest challenge for me is to convince others to believe in my crazy scientific proposals.

One thing that can make me happy for sure is visiting a new country (maybe a new planet in the future).

I advise my students to be valuable men, which is more important than just being successful men.

Position           Associate Professor

Education        2013–2018  Wuhan University                         Ph.D.

                        2009–2013  Wuhan University                         B.Sc.

ORCID            0000-0001-9433-3444

I am interested in luminescent materials because they are so beautiful in the dark.

I published my first academic article in J. Mater. Chem. C in 2015, which is about the design of blue AIE luminogens and their application in OLEDs.

The goal of my research is to develop new materials that can be used in daily life.

I am most passionate about my work in organic room temperature phosphorescence because this in itself is an anomaly which easily arouses my curiosity.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading martial arts fiction.

My favourite thing is watching my little girl grow up happily.

I would like to share with my students: success comes from constant effort.

My most important role model is my advisor Prof. Zhen Li. His passion for scientific research has always impressed me and I learned a lot from him.

I always feel lucky to be able to do what I like with lovely people.