Scholarship: Fully-funded
Degree: Bachelor, Master, Ph.D
Nationality: International Students
Location: USA
Application deadlines: Open
Scholarship Description:
The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University invites motivated and creative PhD students to join Dr. Yian Chen’s research team, with the possibility of co-advising from Dr. Jikai Zhao. The start dates for admission are Fall 2025, Spring 2026, or Fall 2026.
Our research focuses on advancing economically viable and sustainable biomanufacturing technologies to support the transition to a circular bioeconomy. Admitted students will receive a fully funded scholarship, covering tuition, a competitive living stipend, and associated benefits.
Dr. Yian Chen, an incoming assistant professor at Kansas State University, earned her Bachelor’s and PhD in Chemical Engineering from UCLA in 2017 and 2022, respectively. Her doctoral thesis received the National Academic Achievement Award from the American Water Works Association (AWWA). She has conducted postdoctoral research in bioengineering at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where she was awarded the “Director’s Award for Excellence.”
Available Subjects:
- Simultaneous fermentation and downstream separation processes.
- Integration, modeling, and optimization of downstream processes.
- Intelligent manufacturing.
- Synthesis of advanced separation materials (e.g., solvent-resistant membranes, biomaterials).
- Modeling of the fundamental mechanisms in separation processes.
Eligibility criteria:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, or related fields.
- Laboratory research experience in bioprocessing, separation technologies, or materials development is preferred.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving abilities.
- Innovative, independent thinker with attention to detail.
- Passionate about innovation in sustainability and biomanufacturing.
Application Procedure:
Interested applicants should organize the following materials into a single PDF file and send it to Dr. Yian Chen at [email protected].
