04 Feb 2026
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s (XJTLU) School of Science has once again demonstrated its outstanding research excellence by securing a total of nine Strategic Postgraduate Research Scholarships (PGRS) for the 2025/26 academic year. This is remarkable accomplishment that underscores the School’s central role and significant contributions in advancing XJTLU’s strategic research priorities both nationally and internationally.
We are proud to announce that out of a total of 122 applications from 15 academic units, 9 awardees from our School secured the AY2025/26 Strategic Postgraduate Research Scholarship (PGRS) through a rigorous and highly competitive scholarly review process. These awards support the recruitment of highly talented PhD students in pursuit of ambitious research projects that strongly align with the XJTLU’s five key research pillars: 1) Artificial Intelligence, 2) Advanced Semiconductors, 3) Biomedicine, 4) Frontier Materials, and 5) Sustainability.
The nine awardees from the School of Science span four critical domains:
Artificial Intelligence
Akhil Garg, Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry and Materials Science
Akhil.Garg@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title: Generative AI and Experimental Validation of Thermal Metamaterials for Electric Vehicle Battery Packs
Qiuchen Dong, Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry and Materials Science
Qiuchen.Dong@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title: Biomarkers Panel Measurements for Early Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer through Data-driven Enhanced Learning process
Frontier Materials
Tianhong Gu, Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry and Materials Science
Tianhong.Gu@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title: AI-Driven Discovery of Sustainable Nickel and Titanium Superalloys for Next-Generation Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace and Energy Applications
Zhenghao Wu, Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry and Materials Science
Zhenghao.Wu@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title: Accelerating Polymer Electrolytes Design for Solid-State Battery with Molecular Simulation and Generative Machine Learning
Biomedicine
Chun Chan, Assistant Professor
Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics
Chun.Chan@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title: A Multiscale Computational and Machine Learning Framework for the Rational Design of Metallo-Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhanced mRNA Delivery.
Lee Wei Lim, Associate Professor
Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics
LeeWei.Lim@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title: Investigating the neuroprotective mechanisms of memory enhancement by deep brain stimulation in an animal model of dementia
Weiwei Dai, Assistant Professor
Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics
Weiwei.Dai@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title: Investigating the Novel Roles and Molecular Mechanisms of Hepatic Glutamine Synthetase in Suppressing Liver Tumor Progression
Sustainability
Juan Li, Assistant Professor
Department of Health and Environmental Sciences
Juan.Li@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title: Beyond Detection Shadows: AI Frameworks for Discovering Hidden Wildlife Recovery at Scale
Zheng Chen, Professor
Department of Health and Environmental Sciences
Zheng.Chen@xjtlu.edu.cn
Project Title:Microbial-Explicit Modeling Enhanced by Spectrum-Derived Soil and Plant Parameters to Predict Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Paddy Soils
04 Feb 2026