Dr. Shijie Liu
Dr. Shijie Liu received dual recognition for his work as a researcher this spring when he was honored with both the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities and was named ESF’s Exemplary Researcher for 2020-21.
Liu, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, focuses his work on sustainable resources and the environment. He has made significant research and scientific contributions in the field of biological and catalytic processing of biomass into various value-added biochemical and biofuels.
He was also instrumental in developing a partnership with the Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) that brings students from BUCT to ESF to spend a year on campus completing their degrees in bio-process engineering.
Liu has contributed to the fundamentals of chemical engineering processes in addition to its applications in green processes.
His book on bioprocess engineering: kinetics, sustainability and reactor design has been used to train students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for almost a decade and has been a global influence in teaching undergraduate and graduate students. It is one of the top textbooks in the field of bioprocess engineering which articulates the key principles of bioreaction engineering and bioprocess systems engineering that enable bioprocess engineers to engage in the analysis, optimization, design, and consistent control over industrial biological processes.
Liu is a dedicated teacher of undergraduates and graduate students teaching a variety of courses. Students react extremely well to his teaching methods as he engages them and elicits reactions to material that students would not normally react to.
He has trained numerous Ph.D. and master’s of science students and several postdoctoral scientists and young academics.
“Shijie is not only an extraordinary researcher and scholar but also an excellent mentor and builder at ESF,” said Dr.Christopher Nomura, vice president for research.
“He has been instrumental in developing the bioprocess engineering major at the College and building partnerships that bring in outstanding students from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology to participate in this program. Shijie has consistently mentored large cadres of graduate students through the research process and their work is more relevant than ever in the spheres of bioprocess engineering towards the production of renewables.”
Liu is distinguished as one of the top researchers at ESF with an international reputation. He has been managing a team of approximately 10 graduate students for the past decade and has authored or co-authored more than 190 refereed journal publications in highly cited and reputed journals in the field. He has 7,012 total citations (Google Scholar) and has achieved a high H-Index factor of 51 (Google Scholar).
To sustain his research efforts, Liu has received over $1 million in external funding as sole PI and played a major supporting role in an additional $4 million in funding. His sponsors include New York State Energy Research & Development, the Department of Energy, and Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, Inc.
The Exemplary Researcher Award is a college-level award recognizing successful, currently active researchers with exemplary research activity, publication record and a graduate/undergraduate student mentorship program.
Liu was also honored this spring with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities (read story).