Speaker

Fang Chao is an Assistant Professor in the School of Sustainable Energy and Environment at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou). He received his Bachelor's degree in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2015, and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2019. Afterward, he conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His current research focuses on the theoretical and computational study of cross-scale transport mechanisms in emerging energy applications, including battery electrolyte systems, soft matter systems, and dense porous media. He has published 33 journal papers, including 18 first-author papers in prestigious journals such as Nature Materials, Physical Review Letters, JACS Au, Chemical Science, ACS Macro Letters, and Fuel. He serves as a guest editor for Materials (JCR Q2), a young editorial board member for Capillarity, and a reviewer for over ten SCI journals, including Nano Letters, Carbon, and Fuel. He has received several awards, including the Outstanding Award in the Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Science and Technology of China, and the Pratt Fellowship from the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech.

Abstract

The strategic research areas of the School of Sustainable Energy and Environment include novel renewable and green energy generation, new energy storage, digital energy technologies, advanced energy conversion, smart buildings, air pollution control, and carbon neutrality. The School of Sustainable Energy and Environment aims to lead innovative and interdisciplinary energy research, uncovering potential opportunities and key solutions for addressing climate change. Scholars in this domain break through the boundaries of fundamental science, applied science, technology, engineering, and the arts to solve complex interdisciplinary problems, developing effective technologies and transitioning them from the laboratory to industry. This report will provide a detailed overview of the research progress, key areas, development plans, collaborations with academic and industrial partners both domestically and internationally, as well as the related admission policies for master’s and Ph.D. programs at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou).