It is with great pleasure that we share the news that Mr. Chen ZHAO has been awarded the prestigious and highly competitive Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship. This global initiative selects the most promising early-career researchers to revolutionize scientific discovery through the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Mr. Zhao is a dedicated and innovative PhD candidate currently in his final year at the Department of Ocean Science at HKUST under the supervision of Prof. Ding HE. He is also a recipient of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). His doctoral research focuses on “Using Data-driven Techniques to Study Organic Molecular Chemistry in Marine Environments”. The thesis integrates multiple cutting-edge data science methodologies to interpret complex dataset of organic molecules of dissolved organic matter (DOM), one of the largest reactive carbon pools in the ocean, derived from ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry. This new fellowship marks a significant milestone in his scientific career, positioning him at the forefront of the “AI for Science” movement. Chen will join the University of Michigan to conduct pioneering research. He will combine the knowledge in DOM cycling and AI techniques into the prediction of harmful algae blooms (HABs), which is a global issue posing serious threats to water quality, ecosystem health, and regional economies.
Mr. Zhao has also showcased his work at several international conferences, including the Goldschmidt conference and AGU annual meeting, and received the Best Poster Award at two national-level conferences in China. Additionally, he serves as a reviewer for the well-recognized Environmental Science & Technology journal.
About the Fellowship:
A program of Schmidt Sciences, the fellowships aim to accelerate the next scientific revolution by applying artificial intelligence to research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Fellowship program provides annual support to Postdoctoral Fellows across nine universities around the world each year, including Oxford University and Cornell University.
Congratulations to Mr. Zhao on this well-deserved recognition! This achievement reflects the commitment of our department to excellence in research, and we look forward to his continued contributions to our understanding of carbon cycling and environmental science.
Please join us in celebrating this significant achievement!
