Yuxin Yan, PhD in Chemical Engineering
Yuxin Yan is a graduate of UNNC Environmental Engineering programme in 2016 and received the full scholarship from the UNNC for the doctoral studies.
Her PhD research topic was focused on transforming wastes into value-added products. They have successfully converted agricultural wastes like straws and grass into high value graphene materials with many industrial applications, for example, to be used in the anti-cancer therapy.
Our research can contribute to the society in three ways, the using of wastes as starting material significantly reduces the costs of functional materials; their research provides a solution to waste management issues; and they push forward the green chemical through developing ways to produce graphene materials without using toxic chemicals.
Throughout her PhD studies, her supervisors have provided her with unshaken support and continuous guidance in academic and research, knowledge exchange and transfer, and opportunities and resources. “I am thankful to them, Prof. Cheng Heng Pang, Prof. Tao Wu, and Prof. Edward Lester, for allowing me to carry out my own research freely and confidently, but at the same time consistently keeping me on the right track. As role models, they have taught me to be sincere, focused, and humble, both professionally and personally.”
Yuxin values her study in the UNNC. “My learning experience at UNNC has taken place in an inspiring learning environment, an international campus with unique local features, and a research platform with state-of-the-art research facilities and multi-disciplinary collaborations. I have learned to be better on so many levels: a better student, a better researcher, and a better person. ”
Jiahui Yu, PhD in Environmental Engineering
Jiahui Yu received her bachelor degree from Fuzhou University and obtained a master's degree (my major is environmental science) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She received the UNNC New Materials Institute Scholarship for her research in which she has true passion.
Her research topic is to use MOF precursors to prepare highly dispersed metal oxide catalysts and use them for the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide. Jiahui found the preparation of the catalyst and the analysis of the catalyst mechanism were full of fun. After countless characterizations and simulation calculations, when she finally understood how this reaction happened, she would like to share her happiness with the world.
Jiahui told us that during these three years of study Professor Tao Wu has given her a lot of guidance and help. “In Professor Wu's research group, we regularly hold group meetings to report on research progress, discuss with each other, and get constructive opinions. Professor Wu has a keen sense of scientific research direction and strong analytical ability, and he is very helpful to doctoral students in controlling the direction of scientific research and writing papers.” Jiahui added, “The post-doctoral fellows and staffs in the group also gave us a lot of guidance and help in both research and daily life.”
At UNNC, she has been so motivated and gradually falling in love with scientific research. “I feel that working in the laboratory every day is full of fun. The process of doing experiments is a process of realising my own ideas step by step, which is interesting and full of unknown. I think the most memorable thing in the past three years at UNNC is that it helped me find a job and career I love.”
Billy Fanady, PhD in Chemical Engineering
Billy Fanady comes from Indonesia and studied Chemical Engineering in the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. In 2017, he graduated with First Class honorary degree and received the full scholarship from the UNNC. Therefore, he continued his research under the supervision of academics from both UNNC and CNITECH, CAS.
His research focuses on the engineering of organic photovoltaic devices, specifically on how one can obtain the maximum device performance. The interesting part is applying those devices into greenhouse, observing the growth of plants under greenhouse covered with organic photovoltaic device. This enables the realisation of organic photovoltaic device for photovoltaic and photosynthesis.
“Ever-increasing demand for fossil fuel as non-renewable source of energy has led to rapid depletion of natural resources such as coal, oil and natural gas. With this rate, there will be a scarcity in energy sources and therefore, alternative renewable energies are needed. Solar energy is one promising option, as it is abundant in nature. Therefore, the study on photovoltaic technology to harvest solar energy from sun irradiation and converted it to electrical energy has caught mass attention. Organic photovoltaic technology which is currently under development may solve the cost issues associated with conventional silicon-based technology, bringing about the realisation of sustainable future based on low-cost and green photovoltaic technology.” Billy hopes his research could make the world a better place.
His supervision team, Professor Tao Wu, UNNC and Professor Ziyi Ge from CNITECH, gave him constructive guidance and funding support. He would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Mengxia Xu (UNNC) and Professor Edward Lester (UNUK) for their moral support and advice to persist through his study.
“UNNC taught me a lot of life lessons, preparing me to face the real world. They taught me how to be an independent researcher, how to communicate and interact with other people from different countries, how to manage time, how to be responsible, etc. Most importantly, UNNC helped me to improve my Chinese language by giving me the opportunity to collaborate with local research institutes.”
Talking about his future plan, he said he was looking for post-doctoral position or industrial position in China because he fell in love with the country. However, due to the epidemic situation, travelling becomes impossible. Thereby, in the meantime, he is currently employed in the first vitamin-fortified sugar company in Indonesia as Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Product Development Assistant Manager, headquartered in Jakarta.
At last, as Professor Nick Miles addressed in the Ceremony, "take the lead now with you next chapter, make a difference with the power you've gained at UNNC, your journey has been aided by the people you have met along the way."