Rui Qiao named fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Rui Qiao, Virginia Tech professor in mechanical engineering and researcher in mathematical modeling, has been named a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry for his work at the interface of chemistry and its applications to technologies such as electrical energy storage.  

The society is the largest organization in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences and awards this designation to researchers with more than five years in a senior position who have made an impact in any field of the chemical sciences. Nominations are submitted by other members to recognize distinguished careers in research, public service, outreach, policy development and change, and leadership of the chemical science community to provide solutions for societal challenges.

Qiao is a professor and the John R. Jones III Faculty Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His impact runs the length of his two-decade career, highlighted by more than 9,000 citations in peer-reviewed journals crossing the fields of engineering, science, physics, and more. As an established expert in mathematical modeling, he has often sought collaborations with global partners who work in the physical realm, lending his expertise to deeper understanding of a myriad of principles.

One of his colleagues is Brian Lattimer, head of the Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering.

“Dr. Qiao being named as Royal Society of Chemistry fellow highlights him as a recognized leader in computational sciences related to interfaces,” Lattimer said. “His collaborations in a wide range of disciplines showcase how his expertise is being leveraged to solve some of the most pressing problems in society.”

Qiao’s recent work with Lattimer investigated the use of more environmentally friendly foams to fight fires, specifically those which do not use perfluoroalkyl substances. Lattimer investigated the properties of the foams and relayed findings to Qiao's team to model the interactions mathematically, paving the way for future collaborations with interdisciplinary teams seeking climate solutions.  

Qiao was nominated for the fellowship by Virginia Tech colleague Robert Moore, professor in the Department of Chemistry and director of the Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII). The institute  fosters universitywide interdisciplinary collaborations among faculty in different colleges at Virginia Tech. Qiao's home is in the College of Engineering, and his long record of impactful research collaborations with students and faculty in Moore's group was one of the driving factors in Moore’s decision to support the award.

“Professor Qiao has superb research accomplishments in the chemistry and engineering of macromolecular interfaces, which is a core discipline within MII,” said Moore. “The chemical and physical insights of his interdisciplinary work have not only advanced our fundamental understanding of these interfaces but have also helped engineering communities control and leverage these interfaces in practical technologies, especially in materials for advanced energy storage.”

Since joining Virginia Tech in 2014, Qiao has been named a John R. Rones III Faculty Fellow, a fellow of the American Society of Engineers, and a faculty fellow of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering.

Qiao received his bachelor’s degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, his master’s degree from Tsinghua University, and his doctorate from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.