Ximin He, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering in the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, has received a top international honor for early career researchers.
He was one of 14 researchers from around the globe who were named CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars for 2019–21.
The program recognized her research in creating new materials, which are inspired by nature, that harvest and store energy. A key to this work is in understanding photosynthesis and biological phototropism — the phenomenon that explains how plants grow and orient themselves to maximize their exposure to sunlight — and incorporating those concepts into smart materials.
The scholar program includes $100,000 (Canadian) in unrestricted research support and pairs scholars with senior researchers who are part of CIFAR. The program also offers leadership and communication skills training.
CIFAR, based in Canada, is a global charitable organization that supports scholars who seek to address the most important questions facing science and humanity. It is supported by the government of Canada; provincial governments of British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, and international partners that include individuals, foundations and corporations. The scholars program is supported by the Azrieli Foundation, with additional support provided by the Love Family Leadership Development Fund.
He was one of three researchers in the class that are faculty members at University of California campuses.