Dr. Hu Junyong - Reverse Electrodialysis Heat Engine - Best Researcher Award

Taiyuan University of Technology - China

Author Profile

🎓 Early academic pursuits

Hu Junyong began his academic journey in thermal energy and power engineering, earning his bachelor's degree from henan university of science and technology (2008–2012). he continued to deepen his expertise in the energy domain with a master's and subsequently a ph.d. in refrigeration and cryogenic engineering at dalian university of technology (2012–2020). his strong foundation in thermal systems provided a gateway into specialized applications involving power electronics, heat engines, and energy-efficient technologies.

👨‍🏫 Professional endeavors

In April 2020, hu junyong joined the taiyuan university of technology as a lecturer. during his academic tenure, he has consistently balanced teaching and research. from july 2021 to july 2023, he pursued post-doctoral research at taiyuan boiler group co., ltd., where he worked on industrial applications of thermal systems, further integrating power electronics for efficient waste heat utilization and energy recovery systems. his dual academic and industrial experiences contribute to a pragmatic research vision.

🔬 Contributions and research focus

Hu Junyong’s research revolves around reverse electrodialysis power generation, desalination technology, and waste heat utilization. his core scientific contributions include optimizing the Reverse Electrodialysis Heat Engine performance of low-grade thermal energy-driven reverse electrodialysis systems and developing air-gap diffusion distillation devices. his work bridges the gap between thermodynamic cycles and emerging power electronics-enabled solutions, with a particular focus on pollution control, flue gas treatment, and water-energy nexus applications.

🌍 Impact and influence

His influence is evident in the growing relevance of reverse electrodialysis systems within clean energy and environmental engineering sectors. by integrating fundamental thermodynamics with applied engineering, especially in flue gas pollutant removal and desalination, hu junyong’s innovations contribute to sustainable energy transformation in industrial setups. his Reverse Electrodialysis Heat Engine involvement in national key r&d programs amplifies his role in steering future-ready power electronics innovations in energy and utility sectors.

📚 Academic cites

As a principal investigator, hu junyong has secured significant funding, including grants from the china postdoctoral science foundation and the shanxi youth research program. the projects Reverse Electrodialysis Heat Engine span from performance optimization of heat engines to flue gas-driven desalination systems. additionally, he participated in a major national r&d program focusing on low-calorific-value coal resource utilization, underscoring his scholarly relevance and contribution to cutting-edge research.

🚀 Legacy and future contributions

Looking ahead, hu junyong aims to refine thermal-to-electric conversion techniques and push the boundaries of membrane-based energy generation. his vision includes coupling reverse electrodialysis with smart control systems powered by power electronics, targeting not only energy efficiency but also sustainability in industrial and environmental processes. his ongoing commitment to both academic excellence and industrial innovation paves the way for transformative breakthroughs in clean energy technologies.

Notable Publications

Title: Experimental performance comparison of helium-gap diffusion distillation and air–gap diffusion distillation
Author(s): Junyong Hu, Yukun Sun, Jiajie Zhang, Suxia Ma, Xuemao Guo, Jianfei Wang
Journal: Energy Conversion and Management
Title: Influence of output current on decolorization efficiency of azo dye wastewater by a series system with multi-stage reverse electrodialysis reactors
Author(s): S. Xu, Q. Leng, X. Wu, Z. Xu, J. Hu, D. Wu, D. Jing, P. Wang, F. Dong
Journal: Energy Conversion and Management
Title: Experimental study on the hydrogen production with RED reactor powered by concentration gradient energy (溶液浓差能驱动的逆电渗析反应器制氢实验研究)
Author(s): S. Xu, Z. Liu, X. Wu, Y. Zhang, J. Hu, D. Wu, Q. Leng, D. Jin, P. Wang
Journal: Huagong Xuebao / CIESC Journal
Title: Heat and mass transfer evaluation of air-gap diffusion distillation by ε-NTU method
Author(s): L. Xu, S. Xu, X. Wu, P. Wang, D. Jin, J. Hu, L. Li, L. Chen, Q. Leng, D. Wu
Journal: Desalination
Title: Experimental investigation on the performance of series control multi-stage reverse electrodialysis
Author(s): Junyong Hu, Shiming Xu, Xi Wu, Sixue Wang, Xuan Zhang, Shuaishuai Yang, Ruyu Xi, Debing Wu, Lin Xu
Journal: Energy Conversion and Management

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Francesco Asnicar began his academic journey with a strong foundation in computational biology and microbiology. His interest in these fields led him to pursue advanced studies, culminating in a Ph.D. at the Department of Cellular, Computational, and Integrative Biology (CIBIO) at the University of Trento, Italy. His early academic pursuits were marked by a deep interest in understanding the complexities of the human microbiome and its interactions with various environmental factors, particularly diet.

Professional Endeavors

Dr. Asnicar currently holds a tenure-track researcher position at CIBIO, University of Trento. Before this, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Laboratory of Computational Metagenomics under the supervision of Prof. Nicola Segata from June 2019 to April 2024. During his postdoc, Dr. Asnicar led the local operative unit of the Human Microbiome Action H2020 project, a European initiative aimed at maximizing the impact of microbiome research through harmonization and knowledge transfer. His role in this project involved fostering collaborations with leading research laboratories, including TwinsUK and the Nutritional Sciences Departments at King’s College London, as well as with ZOE Limited.

Accolades and Recognition

Throughout his career, Dr. Asnicar has supervised one Ph.D. student, six MSc students, and two BSc students, and is currently co-supervising three Ph.D. students. His work has been recognized for its impact on the field of computational metagenomics and microbiome research, Blastocystis particularly in the context of microbiome-diet interactions.

Impact and Influence

Dr. Asnicar’s contributions have had a profound impact on microbiome research, particularly in Europe. His efforts in the Human Microbiome Action H2020 project have helped harmonize research practices and facilitate knowledge transfer across the continent. His collaborations with leading institutions have provided valuable insights into microbiome-diet relationships, influencing both academic research and practical Blastocystis applications in nutritional sciences.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. Francesco Asnicar continues to push the boundaries of computational microbiome research. His ongoing work is expected to yield further innovations in the field, particularly in understanding the role of the microbiome in human health and disease. His legacy is one of dedication to Blastocystis advancing the field of computational biology, mentoring the next generation of scientists, and fostering international collaborations that drive scientific progress.