Sai Wu | Polymer Materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sai Wu, Zhejiang A&F University, China.

Dr. Sai Wu is a Lecturer at the College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A&F University, China. He earned his Ph.D. in Polymer Materials from Zhejiang University and was a Visiting Scholar at The Ohio State University. His expertise spans biomimetic polymer synthesis, bioinspired adhesives, and smart coatings. Previously, he worked as a Chemist at Sherwin-Williams, focusing on R&D in materials science. His research explores anti-mildew, flame-retardant, and responsive coatings. Passionate about innovation, he contributes to sustainable material advancements in academia and industry. 🌱🧪🎨

Publication Profile

Scopus

Education & Experience

✅ B.S. in Polymer Science & Engineering (2008-2012) – Jilin University 🏛️
📝 Thesis: Polymerization of amino acid polymers 🧬

✅ Ph.D. in Polymer Materials (2012-2018) – Zhejiang University 🎓
📝 Thesis: Living polymerization & surface design of biocompatible polymers 🏗️

✅ Visiting Scholar (2017-2018) – The Ohio State University 🌎
🔬 Research: 3D polymer scaffold for tissue engineering 🏥

✅ Chemist (2019-2021) – Sherwin-Williams, Foshan, China 🏭
🔬 R&D in materials science, coatings, and adhesives 🎨

✅ Lecturer (2022-Present) – Zhejiang A&F University 🏛️
📚 Teaching and research in polymer materials and coatings 🧪

Suitability Summary

Dr. Sai Wu is a highly accomplished researcher and a deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award, recognized for his outstanding contributions to polymer materials science. Currently a Lecturer at Zhejiang A&F University, he holds a Ph.D. from Zhejiang University and has gained international experience as a Visiting Scholar at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on biomimetic polymer synthesis, bioinspired adhesives, and advanced coatings, including anti-mildew, flame-retardant, and smart coatings. With industrial experience at Sherwin-Williams, Dr. Wu has successfully translated research innovations into real-world applications, making remarkable advancements in materials engineering and sustainable technologies.

Professional Development

Dr. Sai Wu has continuously advanced in polymer materials science, blending academic research with industrial applications. As a Visiting Scholar at The Ohio State University, he explored 3D polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering 🏥. His doctoral work at Zhejiang University focused on living polymerization and biocompatible surface design, contributing to biomaterials innovation 🎓. His industry experience at Sherwin-Williams allowed him to develop high-performance coatings, including anti-mildew, flame-retardant, and smart coatings 🏭. Currently, as a Lecturer at Zhejiang A&F University, he integrates research, teaching, and industrial collaboration to pioneer next-gen polymer materials 🌍.

Research Focus

Dr. Sai Wu’s research is centered on polymer materials and functional coatings, integrating biomimetic principles with advanced material engineering 🧪. He specializes in biomimetic polymer synthesis 🌱, bioinspired adhesives 🦎, and smart coatings that respond to environmental stimuli 🌡️. His work in anti-mildew coatings 🦠 and flame-retardant materials 🔥 enhances durability and safety in industrial applications. By developing responsive and sustainable coatings, he contributes to eco-friendly innovations 🌍. His research aims to bridge fundamental polymer science with practical applications, creating high-performance materials for diverse industries, from healthcare to construction. 🏗️🎨

Awards & Honors

🏅 Outstanding Researcher Award – Zhejiang A&F University 🏛️
🏅 Best Paper Award – International Polymer Conference 📝
🏅 Innovation in Coatings Award – Sherwin-Williams R&D 🌟
🏅 Scholarship for Academic Excellence – Zhejiang University 🎓
🏅 Visiting Scholar Grant – The Ohio State University 🌎

Publication Top Notes

“Improving the strength and toughness performance of urea-formaldehyde adhesive using a biomimetic strategy.” European Journal of Wood and Wood Products, 2025. 🧪🔬
“Asymmetric evaporation for efficient and simultaneous extraction of freshwater, salt, and electrical energy from seawater.” Energy & Environmental Science, 2024. 🌊⚡
“Tuning interfacial desolvation kinetics to stabilize ammonium vanadate cathodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.” Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2025. 🔋🔧
“Molten salt activation combined with in-situ surface graphitization towards wood-derived self-supporting carbon electrodes with high volumetric specific capacity for zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors.” Industrial Crops and Products, 2024. 🌳⚙️
“Constructing thermal convection film for low heat loss and high salt resistance in wood-based solar evaporators.” Small, 2024.☀️🌿
“Solar-powered flow-through catalytic evaporator for high-performance water desalination and synergistic pollutant degradation.” Desalination, 2024. 💧🔄
“Flame retardant mechanism-inspired fabrication of all-biomass-derived porous carbons for zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors.” Industrial Crops and Products, 2024. 🔥🌱
“Laser-engraved wood-based evaporators: A sustainable approach for solar interfacial evaporation.” Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024. 🌞🪵

Selina Yao | Polymer | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Selina Yao, Rivian Automotive LLC , United States .

Selina Yao, Ph.D.

, is a Mechanical Engineer specializing in polymer materials and their applications in automotive, AR/VR, and battery technology

. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Vermont and is currently a Senior Design for Reliability Engineer at Rivian Automotives

. With a robust background in materials engineering and extensive research on gas-polymer interactions, she has published numerous papers and contributed to innovative product designs. Her expertise spans from high-precision air slit fabrication to polymer electrolyte development, and she actively mentors students in materials science and engineering.

Education and Experience

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Vermont, 2020

Dissertation: “Using dielectric characterization to study transport and thermal properties of gas/supercritical fluid embedded polymer solution”

BA in Materials Science & Engineering, Central South University, 2014

Senior Design for Reliability Engineer, Rivian Automotives, Palo Alto, CA (2021–present)

Materials Engineer, Facebook (2020–2021)

Polymer Engineer, TE Connectivity Corporation (2020)

Research Assistant, University of Vermont (2015–2020)

Suitability for The Award

Dr. Selina Yao stands as a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award, owing to her innovative research, strong academic record, and practical industry experience. Her work encompasses pioneering contributions to materials science, particularly in polymers, supercritical fluids, and electrospinning technologies, as well as significant industrial advancements in electric vehicle (EV) and AR/VR systems.

Professional Development ()

Selina Yao has continuously enhanced her professional skills through hands-on experience and collaboration with leading industry teams. As a Senior Design for Reliability Engineer at Rivian Automotives

, she contributes to vehicle reliability from concept to production. Prior to Rivian, Selina worked at Facebook on thermal management for AR/VR devices

. Her role in TE Connectivity involved developing high-voltage plastic products for EV chargers

. Selina also secured funding for major research projects during her academic tenure

. Her mentoring and teaching roles have helped shape the next generation of engineers, reflecting her commitment to knowledge sharing.

Research Focus

Selina Yao’s research focuses on polymer materials, especially the interaction between polymers and gas/supercritical fluid systems . She explores the dielectric properties of polymer mixtures to study their transport and thermal characteristics, applying this understanding to improve materials for advanced battery technologies, automotive solutions, and imaging systems . Her expertise includes polymer electrolytes for Li-metal batteries, foaming processes for polymers, and MEMS-based precision fabrication for spectrometers . Through her publications, Selina has contributed to the advancement of gas diffusivity measurement methods and materials science, constantly pushing the boundaries of polymer applications.

Awards and Honors ()

Published numerous papers in prestigious journals such as Micromachines and ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Successfully secured NSF funding for $500,000 during her Ph.D. research
Raised $225,000 in research funding from ExxonMobil for polymer foaming process optimization
Co-authored papers on innovative battery technology and precision fabrication techniques

Publication

Measurement methods for solubility and diffusivity of gases and supercritical fluids in polymers and its applications — 51 citations, 2017
Fabricating and controlling PCL electrospun microfibers using filament feeding melt electrospinning technique — 21 citations, 2016
Effects of cryo-processing on the mechanical and biological properties of poly (vinyl alcohol)-gelatin theta-gels — 5 citations, 2020
A novel method to characterize thermal properties of the polymer and gas/supercritical fluid mixture using dielectric measurements — 4 citations, 2020
A bimetal MOF by solvent-exchanged: Converting pH sensing to “Turn-on” fluorescent receptors for amino acid — 2 citations, 2024
Polymerizable Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Advanced Dendrite-Free, High-Rate, and Long-Life Li Metal Batteries — 1 citation, 2024
Layered Mo x B y (MBenes) derived by a molten-salt method and their application in advanced LIB anodes — 1 citation, 2024