Wu named Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry

Nick Wu has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Nianqiang “Nick” Wu, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at West Virginia University, has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

By Olivia Miller
Communications Specialist

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

“This is the collective outcome of the administrative support, the effort of all my students and the investment in research infrastructure at WVU,” said Wu. “My independent academic career grows from the root at WVU.”

The Royal Society of Chemistry, founded in 1841, is the United Kingdom’s professional body for chemical scientists and the largest organization in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences. The society partners with industry and academia; promotes collaboration and innovation; advises governments on policy; and promotes the talent, information and ideas that lead to great advances in science. The designation FRSC is given to a group of elected Fellows who have made outstanding contributions to chemistry. As of 2016, only 108 scientists have earned this designation.

Wu, a materials scientist, conducts research in photocatalysts and photoelectrochemical cells for solar energy harvesting, batteries and supercapacitors for energy storage, chemical sensors and biosensors for healthcare and environment monitoring. His research is funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Energy.

He received his Ph.D. degree in materials science and engineering from Zhejiang University, China, in 1997. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at University of Pittsburgh from 1999 to 2001 and later directed the Keck Surface Science Center at Northwestern University from 2001-2005. He joined WVU as an assistant professor in 2005 and was promoted to associate professor and professor in 2010 and 2014, respectively. He has published one book and more than 150 journal papers. His papers were cited close to 2,400 times in 2016, achieving a total citation of more than 12,300 throughout his career.

Wu currently serves on the board of directors of the Electrochemical Society and serves as chair of the Sensor Division of ESC. He has received the Benedum Distinguished Scholar Award and the Alice Hamilton Award for Excellence in Occupational Safety and Health: Biological Category. He has won the WVU Statler College Outstanding Researcher Award three times.

“Being named a Fellow of RSC is a well-deserved recognition of the high quality and impact of Dr. Wu’s research work,” said Jacky Prucz, chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering. “He brings great pride to our Department, the Statler College and the University.”

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