Aimin Yu

Professor Aimin Yu is a leading academic in the Department of Chemistry at Swinburne University of Technology, where she is a full Professor in the School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technologies. She earned her PhD from Nanjing University and has held research and academic positions in Germany, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Queensland before joining Swinburne in 2010. She served as Academic Director of Research Training (2017–2020), highlighting her leadership in academic development.

Her research focuses on advanced functional materials, particularly nanoparticles, 2D nanosheets, thin films, and composites, with applications spanning biosensing, drug delivery, catalysis, functional coatings, and wastewater treatment. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates experimental and theoretical methods, including density functional theory for catalyst design. She has co-authored over 250 publications with an h-index of 52, demonstrating sustained scholarly impact.

The recent 15 publications (2023–2025) exhibit a clear trend toward electrochemical sensors (e.g., aptasensors for pesticides), energy materials (OER and NRR catalysts), smart composites (3D-printed and conducting polymer actuators), and environmental applications (lithium extraction, biofilm control). Her work often involves nanomaterials like MOFs, MXenes, and bacterial cellulose, emphasizing both fundamental mechanisms and practical utility.

She has received numerous scientific awards, including:

• FSET Researcher of the Year (2019)
• Visiting Professorship, University of Clermont Auvergne (2019)
• FSET Women Researcher of the Year (2018)
• Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) Research Award (2016, 2012)
• JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship (2003)
• First-level Science and Technology Award from Chinese University (2006, 2001)

Prof. Yu actively supervises a large cohort of PhD and Master’s students on topics ranging from supercapacitors and drug delivery systems to carbon capture and antimicrobial coatings. She has secured significant funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC), National Natural Science Foundation of China, industry partners, and Swinburne internal grants. She serves as Associate Editor for journals including Journal of Bioanalytical Techniques and Materials Science and Nanotechnology, and is a member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, American Chemical Society, and International Electrochemical Society. Her research group operates at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and engineering, with strong collaborative networks and a clear focus on sustainable technologies.