Huiyuan Zhu appointed assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering

Huiyuan Zhu has been appointed assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. She is one of 28 faculty hired into the college for the 2018-19 academic year.

Zhu’s research focuses on electrochemical reactions, which holds the promise for next-generation sustainable energy conversion processes.

“The most exciting thing about research is that by pushing the boundaries of our knowledge, we can potentially enable the impossible,” said Zhu. “Specifically, in my research I’m looking for new sustainable and efficient energy and chemical converting schemes that have never been possible before.”

Zhu received her bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China; her master’s and her doctoral degrees both from Brown.

She was a recipient of the 2014 Liane B. Russell Fellowship. In 2013, Zhu was awarded the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad and the International Precious Metals Institute Gemini Graduate Student Award.

“I’m looking forward to potential collaboration opportunities with faculty here at Virginia Tech,” said Zhu. “I believe interacting with people with different expertise will simulate more brilliant thoughts and ideas, together addressing the critical environmental and energy issues.”

Written by Tina Russell