The 2025 KINGFA Young Investigator Award goes to Dr Tian Li, Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University. She obtained her PhD from the University of Maryland and stayed on as a postdoctoral researcher at the same university prior to joining Purdue University as a faculty member. Her research focuses on advancing nanoscience inspired by nature’s sophisticated designs and exploring scalable applications to facilitate rapid technology deployment. At Purdue University, she also established the Redesigning Natural Materials for Energy, Water, Environment and Devices (ReNEWED) program that focuses on developing a “toolbox” of natural materials that are both fascinating at the nanoscale and impactful as sustainable engineering solutions.
To quote a statement from her appraiser and evaluator
[She] has made several pioneering, first-time discoveries that have sparked new directions in the research and development of cellulose, wood, and mycelium, interfacing these renewable materials with broader areas of physical science. Her contributions reflect exceptional creativity, rigor, and vision—qualities that continue to define her independent career. I am confident that she will remain at the forefront of research and leadership in cellulose, wood, and renewable materials for years to come
Dr Li is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Kavli Fellowship (2024), the Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering (2022), the Violet B Haas Fellowship (2022) and the Sony Research Innovation Award (2022). She will be presented with the KINGFA Young Investigator Award at the 2026 ACS Spring meeting in Atlanta.
Congratulations to her!
Vision and Mission