Current Members
Dr. Xin Zhang
Senior Research Fellow
E-mail: zhangx5[at]sustech.edu.cn
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Xin joined the group in Sept 2020 as a postdoc and has been a senior research fellow since Dec. 2022. Prior to this, he received his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry in 2015 from Lanzhou University, China. He then spent five years at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (Chinese Academy of Sciences) pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Zheng Huang, where he focused on design, synthesis, and application of pincer iridium and ruthenium complexes. Upon graduation, he turned his attention to synthetic molecular inorganic chemistry using spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction as well as computational modeling. Outside the lab, he enjoys reading books and running.
Dr. Jiancheng Li
Senior Research Fellow
E-mail: lijc3[at]sustech.edu.cn
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Jiancheng joined the group in Sept 2020 as a postdoc and has been a senior research fellow since Feb. 2023. Before this, he obtained his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry at Hunan Normal University (2012). Then he completed his Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Hongping Zhu at Xiamen University (2019), where he subsequently spent one more year as a research assistant (2019-2020). From Oct 2017 to Jan 2019, he worked in the Prof. Herbert W. Roesky group at Göttingen University sponsored by the fellowship of China Scholarship Council (CSC). He has been interested in the synthesis and reactivity of novel low-valent main group compounds, involving silylene, germylene, aluminum-containing species.
Prof. Yanbo Mei
Visiting Professor
E-mail: meiyb[at]sustech.edu.cn
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Yanbo is now a tenure-track assistant professor at Great Bay University (from Aug 2023). Yanbo joined the group in Oct 2020 as a postdoc and has earned a promotion to research assistant professor in February 2023. Yanbo studied chemistry at Zhengzhou University and obtained both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in organic chemistry. He completed his Ph.D. degree in June 2020 at ETH Zurich (with Prof. Hansjörg Grützmacher), where he studied organometallics and chemistry of main group elements with a focus on phosphorus. The title of his dissertation is “Complexes, heterocycles and depolymerizable polymers made from building blocks with low-coordinated phosphorus”. His research covers broadly in inorganic and organic phosphorus chemistry, spanning from small inorganic molecules to organic/inorganic heterocycles of different ring members, e. g. 2-phosphaethynolate anion (–O-C≡P) and its complexes, phosphinidenes, phosphiranes, phospholes, phosphinines, phosphanaphthalenes, 7-phosphanorbornadienes. His scientific achievements include the first successful polymerization of P=C double bonds, the discovery of the molecule 2,4,6-tris(hydroxy)-1,3,5-triphosphinine, and the invention of a simple synthetic method to prepare phosphanaphthalenes. He authored 8 publications before joining SUSTech.
Xiaofang Lan
Ph.D. Student (2023) (Master Student 2021)
E-mail: 12331076[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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Xiaofang joined the group in June 2021. She is from Hezhou, Guangxi. She graduated from Southwest Minzu University with a major in Applied Chemistry in 2021. Under the supervision of Prof. Xuefeng Li, she probed the chemistry of a series of bridged ring compounds via tandem reaction of functionalized vinylogous nucleophiles. She likes playing table tennis and reading novels.
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Xin-Feng Wang
Ph.D. Student (2021)
E-mail: 12149046[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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Xinfeng joined the group in July 2021. He was born in Jieyang, Guangdong, China. He received his B.S. degree from Hanshan Normal University in 2014, and then continued his postgraduate study and completed a M.S. degree at Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) in 2016 under the guidance of Prof. Jiyan Pang. After a short work as an admission office staff in Nanfang college of SYSU, he joined Prof. Chuangchuang Li's group at SUSTech as a research assistant in Oct 2017, focusing on the total synthesis of natural products. Outside the lab, billiards and music are two favorite choices.
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Dr. Chaopeng Hu
Senior Research Fellow
E-mail: hucp[at]sustech.edu.cn
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Chaopeng joined the group in Dec 2021 as a post-doctoral fellow and has been a senior research fellow since Jan 2023. Before this, he obtained B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees (with Prof. François Mathey and Prof. Zheng Duan) in Organic Chemistry from Zhengzhou University. In 2021, he graduated from the State Key Laboratory of Elemento-organic Chemistry, Nankai University, with a Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry (with Prof. Chunming Cui). He studied organometallics and the chemistry of main group elements. He has been interested in synthesizing main-group carbene analogs, multiply bonded species, and transition metal complexes, and in exploring their abilities for small-molecule activation and catalysis.
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Dr. Mian He
Post-doctoral Scholar
E-mail: hem[at]sustech.edu.cn
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Mian joined the group in July 2022. He received his B.Sc. degree in 2012 from Lanzhou University, China. Then he completed his M.Sc. in 2015 at the Université de Rennes 1, working on the palladium-catalyzed arylation processes under the supervision of Dr. Jean-François Soulé and Dr. Henri Doucet in France. In 2017, he started his Ph.D. project in Prof. Richard A. Layfield’s group at the University of Manchester in UK and transferred to the University of Sussex in the second year, where he worked on the research topic about the high performance of lanthanide single-molecule magnets (SMMs) in sandwich complexes and new structures of uranium complexes. Now, he would like to take on the challenge from the synthesis of interesting structures based on the main-group elements as well as interdisciplinary research in magnetic and optical materials.
Hongyu Wang
Ph.D. Student (2022)
E-mail: 12231219[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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Hongyu joined the group in July 2022. She comes from Tangshan, Hebei. She obtained B.Sc. degree from Zhejiang University of Technology in June 2022 under the supervision of Prof. Liqun Jin. Hongyu is interested in interesting structures and their amazing reactivity. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading and sleeping.
Zhihao Lu
Master Student (2023)
E-mail: 12332758[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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Zhihao joined the group in Sept 2021 as an undergraduate researcher and has been a graduate student from Sept 2023. He was born in Shanghai and now studying chemistry under the guidance of Prof. Liu. He is interested in new chemistry discovery and likes watching movie and playing Taekwondo in spare time.
Dr. Xue-Yi He
Post-doctoral Scholar
E-mail: hexy[at]sustech.edu.cn
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Xue-Yi joined the group in Feb 2023. He received his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry in 2017 from Wanjiang College of Anhui Normal University. At the end of 2022, he graduated from University of Science and Technology of China, with a Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry (with Prof. Zhong-Xia Wang). His Ph.D. work was centered on transition metal catalysis that involves the activation and ensuing conversion of carbon-oxygen bonds or carbon-nitrogen bonds. Xue-Yi is interested in transition metal complexes and their abilities for small-molecule activation and catalysis. Outside the lab, he enjoys running and traveling.
Prof. Qiuming (Walter) Liang
Visiting Professor
E-mail: qliang[at]gbu.edu.cn
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Walter joined the group in April 2023 as a visiting scholar. He received his Honours B.Sc. degree in Chemistry (2015) at the University of Toronto and Ph.D. degree in Inorganic Chemistry (2020) under the supervision of Prof. Datong Song at the University of Toronto. Subsequently, he was a postdoctoral researcher in Datong Song’s group at the University of Toronto. In March 2023, Walter started as a tenure track assistant professor at Great Bay University where his research focuses on synthetic inorganic chemistry, organometallic chemistry and main-group chemistry.
Ye Chen
Visiting Undergraduate Student
E-mail: chenye9920[at]mails.jlu.edu.cn
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Ye joined the group in September 2023 as a visiting student. He was born in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province. In 2020, he was accepted into Jilin University and began his studies in the chemistry section of the Tang Aoqing Honors Program. As such, he is currently a senior (4th-year undergraduate student) at JLU. His participation in the Chinese Chemistry Olympiad (CChO) during his senior high school years spurred a deep interest in coordination chemistry and elemental chemistry. He remains captivated by the intricate structures and electron configurations of many coordination compounds. This passion drove him to join the group, eager to personally engage in the design, synthesis, purification, and characterization of these mesmerizing molecules. Outside of the lab, Ye enjoys playing Minecraft, with a particular fondness for the technical aspects of the game. If everything goes according to plan, he intends to commence his graduate studies in this group after August 2024.
Zhiqing Liu
Undergraduate Student
E-mail: liuzq2021[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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Zhiqing first met Prof. Liu in September 2021 and officially joined the group in August 2023 due to course scheduling. Born in Yueyang, Hunan, he completed his high school studies at Changjun High School in Changsha, Hunan. During his school years, he competed in the Chinese Chemistry Olympiad (CChO), where his passion for elemental chemistry was ignited. He was proud to secure the first prize in the 34th CChO's preliminary contest. Today, under Prof. Liu's mentorship, Zhiqing is excited to delve further into the captivating world of chemistry. Outside of his academic pursuits, Zhiqing is a social enthusiast, actively involved in various student organizations on campus. He has a passion for breaking (a form of street dance), drumming, watching films, among other interests. Eager to embrace new experiences, Zhiqing continually seeks out challenges.
Fengbo Huang
Master Student (2023)
E-mail: 12332830[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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Fengbo became a member of our group in September 2023. Originally from Guangzhou, he is currently pursuing his studies in chemistry under the guidance of Prof. Liu and Prof. Liang (GBU). He earned his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from the University of Jinan in 2023. Fengbo has a keen interest in molecular structures and chemical reactions. Outside of academia, he has a passion for Hip-Hop and is a break dancer.
Guanrong Chen
Master Student (2023)
E-mail: 12332834[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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Guanrong became a member of our group in September 2023. Before enrolling, he lived in Shenzhen and completed his studies in applied chemistry at Huizhou University. In his spare time, he enjoys playing badminton. He is currently advancing his studies alongside his seniors, classmates, and mentors.
Dr. Mo Liu
Post-doctoral Scholar
E-mail: lium3[at]sustech.edu.cn
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Mo joined the group in September 2023. Prior to his post-doc, he obtained his combined bachelor’s and master’s degree at Newcastle University, UK (2018). From 2018 to 2023, Mo worked under Dr Keith Izod’s supervision for his PhD in Newcastle University, during which he primarily focused on phosphanyl substituted tetrylenes and ditetrelenes. He aims to further his understanding by broadening his study into more novel systems of main group elements. Mo is a passionate amateur photographer and enjoys playing tennis.
Tinghui Zhen
Master Student (2023)
E-mail: 12332746[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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With a keen interest in organic chemistry, Tinghui joined our group in September 2023. Originally from Liaoyang, he is now delving into chemistry under the mentorship of Prof. Liu. Prior to joining us, he earned his degree in Nuclear Chemical and Fuel Engineering from the University of South China. As he collaborates with his seniors, classmates, and mentors, Tinghui is eager to discover a research area within the group that truly captivates him. He enjoys playing table tennis and indulging in Karaoke during his free time.
Dr. David A. Ruiz
Affiliated Researcher
E-mail: druiz[at]behr.com
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David joined the group in Oct 2021. He is a Group Leader in the Applied Research group at Behr Paint Company. In his current role, David leads several projects with the support of various team members focusing on exploratory and innovative technologies to enhance current offerings or develop new product platforms. He previously worked on Behr’s most technologically advanced interior and exterior paint lines, formulating several upgrades to their performance. Prior to Behr, he earned a Ph.D. in chemistry with an emphasis on small molecule isolation from the University of California, San Diego under Distinguished Professor Guy Bertrand. He was raised in Southern California, but most of his family resides in central Mexico where he visits yearly. Outside of visiting Mexico, he enjoys traveling the world and national parks.
Qianwen Fang
Secretary
E-mail: fangqw[at]mail.sustech.edu.cn
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Qianwen joined the group in Sept 2020. She received her B.Sc. degree from Shenzhen University in 2013. Following graduation, she worked in a few private companies, in which she was primarily responsible for event organization and provided administrative support and project management. When not in the lab, she enjoys reading books and climbing mountains.
Alumni
Chi Zhang; Visiting Student (2023); Graduate study at California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Dr. Yanbo Mei; Research Assistant Professor/Post-doctoral Scholar (2020-2023); Assistant Professor (PI, tenure-track) at Great Bay University
Dr. Rui Wei; Senior Research Fellow/Post-doctoral Scholar (2020-2023); Post-doctoral Scholar with Prof. Didier Bourissou at the Université de Toulouse
Xinyu Zhang; Master Student (2022)
Zeen Yan; Master Student (2021)
Shaoying Ju; Research Assistant (2020-2021); RA with Profs. Doug Stephan and Yile Wu at Ningbo University
Chenyang Hu; Research Assistant (2020-2021); Graduate study with Prof. Jose Goicoechea at University of Oxford
Gongping Zhang; Research Assistant (2020-2021)