Professor Li-Chiang Lin wins awards for teaching, research
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Li-Chiang Lin, who recently won two College of Engineering Awards - one for teaching, and one for research.
Teaching Award
Students nominated and selected Professor Li-Chiang Lin for the Charles E. MacQuigg Award for Outstanding Teaching, one of two awards given this year. Named for the late Dean of the College of Engineering, this award is presented annually to faculty members who have demonstrated, in a superior manner, their outstanding teaching ability and an interest in and willingness to help students.
Students overwhelmingly commented on Dr. Lin's passion for teaching and his dedicated efforts to connect with students while clearly explaining complex material and how it applies to engineering outside the classroom. "This is not a trivial feat for material that is largely taught in a theoretical manner," a student wrote.
Professor Lin's ability to keep the material interesting by interspersing personal anecdotes helps students from becoming overwhelmed, one student commented. The student further explained that the anecdotes convey invaluable lessons that Dr. Lin learned when he was a student himself, and that helps to make him both relatable and approachable for students.
This willingness to engage is highly valued by students, as is his responsiveness and organizational skills. "Dr. Lin is continually adjusting the course content and organization in response to what the students want to learn from the course. He ensures that every student feels comfortable reaching out to him," said another student.
"Dr. Lin's constant initiative to improve our education fosters a department culture that drives both students and faculty to cultivate an educational environment that enables students to develop the mindset and skills necessary to thrive in the future." -Student nominator
"When I asked Dr. Lin how he manages to maintain such an intense work schedule throughout the year, he told me that he believes his students are at one of the most critical times in their professional lives, and that alone is a strong motivator for him to work his hardest each day to nurture their successes," a student mentioned.
"It is my honor to receive this award, and I am very happy about it," Professor Lin said. "I like teaching and feel a great responsibility to do it to the best of my ability."
Research Award
Professor Lin also won a College of Engineering Lumley Research Award. Each year the College of Engineering recognizes faculty who have shown exceptional activity and success in pursuing new knowledge of a fundamental or applied nature. This year, twelve faculty whose research contributions and productivity over the last five years have been deemed outstanding received the award.
Professor Lin and his group perform computational studies using molecular simulations and quantum chemical calculations to identify novel, more energy-efficient and cost-effective materials with atomic-level understandings for energy-related applications including gas separation, gas storage, liquid purification, etc. His group also develops methodology to integrate multi-scale computational techniques to achieve more accurate simulation predictions and more efficient computational screenings.
About Professor Lin
Professor Lin obtained his Ph.D. from the University of California-Berkeley in 2014 and first published in 2012 with papers in Nature Materials and Nature Chemistry. Along with this he has also published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals. Several articles have been featured on the front, back, or inside covers of journals such as his recent studies published in Chemical Communications, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C and ChemPhysChem.
Last year, Professor Lin was the first Ohio State faculty member to be named first holder of Umit S. Ozkan Professorship. The professorship, created in honor of Dr. Umit Ozkan by William G. Lowrie ('66), supports an untenured junior faculty—highly uncommon in higher education—in their research as they continue their research, teaching, and service activities at the university.
Professor Lin also recently won the triennial award “Excellence in Publications by a Young Member of the Society” by the International Adsorption Society (IAS) for his contribution to the area of adsorption. In receiving the honor, Professor Lin gave an invited presentation at the 13th Triennial International Conference on the Fundamentals of Adsorption of the IAS in Australia in May 2019.
