Hang Ren

Hang Ren is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has been since 2021. He is affiliated with the Allen J. Bard Center for Electrochemistry and leads research on electroanalytical methods to elucidate interface heterogeneity and dynamics in electrocatalysis, energy storage, and biological systems. Dr. Ren received his B.S. from Sun Yat-Sen University (2011), Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (2016), and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Utah (2016-2018).

Education:

• Postdoctoral Associate, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (2016-2018)
• Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (2016)
• B.S. (Honors) in Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China (2011)

Dr. Ren's research spans analytical chemistry, physical electrochemistry, and materials science. His group pioneers scanning electrochemical probe microscopy and correlative techniques to study nanoscale electrocatalytic processes, revealing local structure-activity relationships in energy conversion and storage. They develop tools for single-cell imaging and delivery, with applications in electrocatalysis, battery materials, critical element recovery, and high-throughput materials synthesis. Key innovations include dynamic interface control and stochastic process analysis at the nanoscale.

His recent publications (2022-2025) emphasize nanoscale heterogeneity in electrochemical systems. Using advanced microscopy, his work uncovers stochastic nucleation/dissolution dynamics and phase transitions, with direct applications in renewable energy. A unifying theme is the development of dynamic strategies for precise electrochemical synthesis and interface engineering across energy storage, catalysis, and biological contexts.

Scientific Awards:

• Sloan Research Fellowship
• Royce W. Murray Young Investigator Award
• NSF CAREER Award
• NIH Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA)
• DARPA Director’s Award
• DARPA Young Faculty Award
• Scialog Fellow
• CNS Catalyst Award
• Baxter Young Investigator Awards
• ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award
• James W. and Carolyn L. Taylor MUACC Travel Award
• George Ashworth Analytical Chemistry Fellowship
• ACS Rising Star in Measurement Science
• Nanoscale Emerging Investigator

Dr. Ren leads the Ren Electrochemistry Group with major funding from NSF, NIH, and DARPA. His group mentors graduate students and postdocs in developing cutting-edge electroanalytical methods for sustainable energy and biomedical applications. Current projects address fundamental challenges in electrocatalyst design, battery interface engineering, and single-cell analysis.

The Ren Electrochemistry Group operates state-of-the-art facilities for nanoscale electrochemical imaging and materials characterization, enabling interdisciplinary collaborations in energy materials and biological systems. Their work bridges fundamental electrochemistry with practical applications in renewable energy and healthcare diagnostics.