Yingjie Zhang

Yingjie Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Science and Technology from UC Berkeley (2015). His research focuses on molecular imaging, electrochemistry, and renewable energy systems, with interdisciplinary collaborations across materials science, physics, and engineering.

Education:

• B.S. in Physics (Summa Cum Laude), Nankai University, 2010
• Ph.D. in Applied Science and Technology, UC Berkeley, 2015

Research Interests:

• Molecular imaging and spectroscopy
• Electrochemical energy conversion and catalysis
• Interfacial solvation dynamics
• Nanomaterials for renewable energy

Awards:

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2024)
• Sloan Research Fellowship (2025)
• Beckman Young Investigator Award (2021)

Grants and Labs:

• NSF STC Center for Quantitative Cell Biology (2023)
• Beckman Institute affiliation (2023–present)
• Zhang Research Group (focusing on interfaces, molecular systems, and energy/health applications)