Feifei Shi

Feifei Shi is an Assistant Professor of Energy Engineering in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University. She also holds courtesy appointments in the Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments at Penn State. Dr. Shi joined Penn State in August 2019 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University.

Dr. Shi earned her B.Sc. in Chemistry from Fudan University in 2010 and her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 2015. Her academic journey reflects a strong interdisciplinary foundation spanning chemistry, mechanical engineering, and energy systems.

Dr. Shi's research focuses at the intersection of surface chemistry, material science, and mechanical engineering, with particular emphasis on electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems. Her work spans multiple areas including battery technology, catalysis, molten salt systems, and sustainable resource extraction. She investigates fundamental mechanisms at electrode-electrolyte interfaces, develops novel characterization techniques, and works on practical applications for next-generation energy storage solutions. Her research group employs advanced experimental methods including in-situ spectroscopy, electrochemical analysis, and materials characterization to address critical challenges in energy systems.

Analysis of Dr. Shi's recent publications reveals a strong focus on battery technology, particularly lithium-based systems. Her work spans fundamental interfacial science, novel battery architectures, and practical manufacturing considerations. She has made significant contributions to understanding solid-electrolyte interphases, developing fast-charging capabilities, improving low-temperature performance, and creating sustainable lithium extraction methods. Her research demonstrates a balanced approach that connects fundamental science with practical engineering applications.

Dr. Shi has received several prestigious awards recognizing her research excellence:

• 2023 NSF CAREER Award
• 2022 J&J WiSTEM2D Scholar by Johnson & Johnson
• 2021 George H. Deike, Jr. Research Grant
• 2019 Virginia S. and Philip L. Walker Faculty Fellow at Penn State University

Dr. Shi actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students in her research group, which focuses on experimental energy research. She serves as guest editor for Frontiers in Energy Research and Energy & Environmental Materials (EEM), and sits on the editorial board of Energy Materials. Her research has been supported by multiple grants, including the NSF CAREER award, which funds her work on fundamental battery interface science.

Dr. Shi leads the Feifei Shi Research Group, housed in the Energy and Environmental Lab (EEL) on Hastings road. Her laboratory focuses on experimental investigations of electrochemical energy systems, with particular expertise in in-situ characterization techniques. The group collaborates extensively with other researchers at Penn State and beyond, leveraging facilities like the Millennium Science Complex and the Penn State Materials Research Institute.