Ya-Huei Chin

Ya-Huei (Cathy) Chin is a Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, Canada Research Chair in Advanced Catalysis for Sustainable Chemistry, and Associate Chair, Research. Her work bridges fundamental molecular-scale understanding of heterogeneous catalysis with industrial applications in fuel processing, chemical synthesis, and emission control technologies.

• B.Sc. (Oklahoma), M.Sc. (Oklahoma), Ph.D. (UC Berkeley)

Dr. Chin's research focuses on synthesizing catalytic materials with tailored structures and compositions, applying multidisciplinary approaches including kinetic analysis, spectroscopy, and theoretical modeling to study catalytic processes under industrially relevant conditions. Her group also develops "chemical-plants-on-a-chip" micro-reactor systems for small-scale fuel/chemical processing.

Recent publications highlight her expertise in: transition-metal cluster reactivity patterns; microenvironment effects on catalytic performance; bond activation mechanisms (C-H, C-O, C-C); and innovative reactor design. Collaborations span surface science, theoretical modeling, and national scientific user centers in Canada/USA.

• Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2018)
• Emerging Leader in Chemical Engineering (2017)
• Canada Research Chair (Tier II) (2016)
• Bill Burgess Teacher of the Year Award (2015)
• Ontario Early Researcher Award (2014)
• Imperial Oil University Research Award (2014)

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