Qin LiView profile
Professor
Professor Qin Li is a distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering at Griffith University's School of Engineering and Built Environment, where she has been employed since 2011, achieving the rank of Professor in 2020. She holds appointments at the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Research Institute (QUATRI) and was previously a member of the Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre (2011-2024). Her research bridges chemical engineering, nanotechnology, and environmental science to develop innovative solutions for global sustainability challenges. Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Queensland (2002) MEng from Zhejiang University (1997) BEng from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (1994) Professor Li's research program centers on functional materials and applied nanotechnology, with particular expertise in carbon nanomaterials including carbon dots. Her work addresses critical challenges in environmental monitoring, water purification, waste reformation, and renewable energy production. She has pioneered applications of nanotechnology in agricultural systems, developing carbon dot-based solutions for crop stress management and disease prevention. Her research aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11). Professor Li's publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory of high-impact research in materials science and environmental engineering. Her recent work shows increasing focus on practical applications of nanotechnology, particularly carbon dots for water treatment, hydrogen production, and agricultural applications. She has successfully translated fundamental research into industry partnerships, particularly with Sugar Research Australia, demonstrating the real-world impact of her work. Scientific Recognition: Curtin Innovation Award (2009) Women in Technology Research Award Finalist (2015, 2020) Marie Curie International Incoming Fellow (2006-2008) Named in Stanford analysis of top 2% of researchers worldwide Research.com Ranking No. 114 in Australia, No. 3428 globally in Materials Science (2023) Co-Founding Chair of the Green and Sustainable Chemistry National Interest Group at RACI Professor Li has supervised numerous doctoral and masters students, with current projects focusing on carbon nanodots for water splitting, PFAS removal, and agricultural applications. She has secured significant research funding from ARC, industry partners, and internal university sources. Her current major projects include "Biomass-derived Carbon Dots Enable Flexible, On-Demand Hydrogen Delivery" (ARC Discovery Project), "Developing a new generation of fungicides with carbon nanodots" (Sugar Research Australia), and participation in the "ARC Research Hub in zero-emission power generation for carbon neutrality." As a member of QUATRI and former member of the Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Professor Li leads a dynamic research group focused on sustainable nanotechnology applications. She actively collaborates with researchers across Australia and internationally, particularly through her involvement in the Regional Collaborations Program workshop "Sustainable Productive Farming - What can nanotechnology offer?" Her leadership extends to organizing the "1st International Conference on Clean Technologies for a Blue Planet," demonstrating her commitment to advancing sustainable technologies through interdisciplinary collaboration.










