Professor He, YAN (Henry)

Chair Professor
Department of Chemistry
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Email: hyan(at)ust(dot)hk
Tel: (+852) 2358 7366
Rm CYT 6003

Prof Henry Yan is currently a Professor in Department of Chemistry, HKUST.
Prof Yan’s research mainly focuses on the design and synthesis of organic/polymer materials for highly efficient organic solar cells.
Before joining HKUST, Prof Yan and his research group in Polyera Corporation reported the first high-mobility n-type semiconducting polymer in Nature and the work was referred to as the “new transistor age” on the cover page of Nature. His group has also produced some of the most efficient polymer solar cells between 2008-2011.
Prof Yan got his BSc degree from Peking University in 2000, followed by a PhD degree (supervisor: Professor Tobin J. Marks) from Northwestern University in 2004.
Prof Yan received School Teaching Award in 2016 and School Research Award in 2015 in appreciation of his excellent performance in teaching and research. He also received IDTechEx Printed Electronics Best Organic Material Award on behalf of PolyeraTeam in 2010, and Flexi Award for R&D from FlexTech in 2011. Prof Yan also serves as Editorial Advisory Board of “Organic Photonics and Photovoltaics” by Versita-Springer.

Experience

2023 – present
Chair Professor of Chemistry, HKUST
2020 – 2023
Professor of Chemistry, HKUST
2016 – 2020
Associate Professor of Chemistry, HKUST
2012 – 2016
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, HKUST
2009 – 2012
Vice President of Product Development, Polyera Corporation, USA
2006 – 2009
Product Development Manager, Polyera Corporation, USA
2005 – 2006
Senior research scientist, Air Products and Chemicals, USA
2004 – 2005
Post–doctoral Fellow, Northwestern University,USA

Awards

2023
Web of Science “Highly Cited Researcher”
2022
Web of Science “Highly Cited Researcher”
2021
Web of Science “Highly Cited Researcher”
2020
Tencent Xplorer Prize as one of top 50 young scientists country-wide
2020
Hong Kong RGC Research Fellow
2020
Web of Science “Highly Cited Researcher”
2019
The champion in Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition
2019
The first prize in the 11th China Shenzhen Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition
2019
Web of Science “Highly Cited Researcher”
2018
The founding member of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences
2018
Web of Science “Highly Cited Researcher”
2016
HKUST School of Science Teaching Award
2015
HKUST School of Science Research Award
2012
Hong Kong Research Grant Council Early Career Grant
2011
Flextech Flexi Award for R&D team award
2010
IDTechEx Printed Electronics “Best Organic Materials” Award
2009
Work highlighted on the cover page of “Nature” as the “new transistor age”