Junjie Niu

Junjie Niu holds the Richard and Joanne Grigg Professorship in Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM), with an affiliate appointment in the School of Freshwater Sciences. He previously held postdoctoral positions at MIT, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania, and was a faculty member at Shanghai JiaoTong University. His research focuses on energy storage materials, water treatment technologies, and the interplay of electro-chemo-mechanical properties in materials. Notable contributions include advancements in lithium-ion batteries, MXene-based coatings, and photocatalytic water purification systems.

Dr. Niu’s research has been published in over 80 journals, including Nature Nanotechnology and Nature Communications, with an h-index of 44. His work spans next-generation batteries, high-nickel cathodes, and self-cleaning coatings. He has secured millions in grants from NSF and industry partners and received awards such as the 2024 STEM Forward Engineer of the Year and UWM’s Research Excellence Awards.

His lab develops novel materials for energy storage and environmental applications, emphasizing scalable synthesis and real-world impact. Ongoing projects include MXene-modified lithium metal anodes, hybrid hydrogel electrolytes, and anti-biofilm surface coatings.