Alumnus Fengqi You of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University Wins AIChE Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development Research and Outstanding Young Investigator Award in Environmental Field

### Abstract: Yu Fengqi, Alumnus of Tsinghua University's Department of Chemical Engineering, Wins Two Prestigious AIChE Awards Recently, Yu Fengqi, a 34-year-old alumnus of Tsinghua University's Department of Chemical Engineering and currently a professor at Cornell University's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, has been awarded two significant international accolades by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE): the AIChE Sustainable Development Research Excellence Award and the AIChE Environmental Division Early Career Award. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is one of the most influential organizations in the field of chemical engineering globally. The Sustainable Development Research Excellence Award is the highest honor bestowed by AIChE in the area of sustainability research, with only one recipient selected annually. Professor Yu received this award in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to the foundational research in sustainability analysis and optimization methods, and their practical applications in advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and energy systems. The AIChE Environmental Division Early Career Award, established in 2016, is awarded annually to a single early-career scholar who has made outstanding contributions to environmental chemical engineering. Professor Yu's achievements in environmental systems engineering, particularly in lifecycle assessment and optimization, and in the environmentally conscious design and operation of chemical and energy systems, have earned him this prestigious recognition. The awards will be presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting in October 2017. Professor Yu's academic journey began at Tsinghua University, where he pursued his undergraduate studies in chemical engineering from 2001 to 2005. During his time at Tsinghua, he excelled academically, earning multiple awards for academic excellence, serving as the president of the Student Science and Technology Association, and receiving the Tsinghua University Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in 2005, Yu moved to the United States to pursue his Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University under the mentorship of renowned process systems engineering expert, Ignacio Grossmann. His doctoral research was highly productive, resulting in numerous publications in prestigious journals such as AIChE Journal, and he was honored with the Carnegie Mellon University Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (Ken Meyer Award) and the AIChE W. David Smith, Jr. Publication Award. Following his Ph.D., Yu conducted postdoctoral research at the Argonne National Laboratory from 2009 to 2011. In 2011, he joined Northwestern University as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, where he continued to make significant contributions to his field until 2016. That year, he was appointed as a tenured endowed professor (Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor) at Cornell University, becoming one of the youngest tenured professors in the university's history. At Cornell, Yu serves as the director of the Process, Energy, and Environmental Systems Engineering Research Laboratory, and he is also a doctoral advisor in chemical engineering, systems engineering, applied mathematics, and operations research and information engineering. In addition to his research and teaching roles, Professor Yu holds several editorial positions, including Associate Editor of Computers & Chemical Engineering, Advisory Editor of AIChE Journal, and Editorial Board Member of ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. His work has not only advanced the theoretical underpinnings of sustainability and environmental engineering but has also had a practical impact on the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies and processes. The dual recognition from AIChE underscores Professor Yu's exceptional contributions to the field of chemical engineering, particularly in the areas of sustainability and environmental impact. His research and leadership have positioned him as a leading figure in the next generation of chemical engineers, and his ongoing work promises to continue shaping the future of the discipline. ### Key Elements: - **Key Events**: - Yu Fengqi wins the AIChE Sustainable Development Research Excellence Award and the AIChE Environmental Division Early Career Award. - Awards to be presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting in October 2017. - **Key People**: - Yu Fengqi (Professor at Cornell University, alumnus of Tsinghua University). - Ignacio Grossmann (Mentor during Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University). - **Locations**: - Tsinghua University (Beijing, China). - Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, USA). - Argonne National Laboratory (USA). - Northwestern University (Evanston, USA). - Cornell University (Ithaca, USA). - **Time Elements**: - 2001-2005: Undergraduate studies at Tsinghua University. - 2005-2009: Ph.D. studies at Carnegie Mellon University. - 2009-2011: Postdoctoral research at Argonne National Laboratory. - 2011-2016: Assistant Professor at Northwestern University. - 2016-present: Tenured endowed professor at Cornell University. - October 2017: AIChE Annual Meeting and award presentation.