Nikolay KORNIENKO

Nikolay Kornienko is an Associate Professor at the University of Montréal's Department of Chemistry (Faculty of Arts and Sciences). He specializes in electrocatalysis, spectroscopy, and nanomaterials, with a focus on renewable energy applications. His research integrates metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and nano-bio interfaces to advance sustainable fuel production and CO₂ conversion. Kornienko holds a PhD from UC Berkeley (2016) and a postdoc from the University of Cambridge (2018). He leads multiple research projects funded by agencies like FRQNT and CRSNG, including initiatives for electrochemical biomass valorization and urea synthesis. Notable achievements include being named to Nano Letters' Early Career Board (2020) and supervising three recent graduate students. His work bridges fundamental catalysis with industrial applications, emphasizing operando spectroscopic techniques to study reaction mechanisms.

Education:

• PhD in Chemistry, UC Berkeley, 2011-2016 (Advisor: Peidong Yang)
• Postdoc, Royal Society Newton Fellow at University of Cambridge, 2016-2018 (Advisor: Erwin Reisner)
• Bachelor's in Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 2007-2011 (Advisor: Sanford Asher)

Research Interests: Electrochemical synthesis of fuels/chemicals from CO₂ and biomass, operando spectroscopy of catalytic interfaces, design of earth-abundant electrocatalysts, and nanomaterials for renewable energy.

Grants & Projects:

• Lead investigator on Quebec Materials Excellence Network (RQMP) project (2022-2029)
• NOVA-funded research on pulsed electrochemical urea synthesis (2023-2026)
• CRSNG grants for MOF-based CO₂ reduction studies (2019-2025)

Awards: Early Career Board Membership of Nano Letters (2020).

Labs/Teams: Part of the CQMF (Québec Center for Functional Materials) and collaborates with interdisciplinary research networks in nanomaterials and energy systems.