The winner of the 2018 Canada Section Student Award is Shuai Chen!
Shuai (Sharon) Chen graduated from Lakehead University with an MSc in electrochemistry. She worked on fundamental studies of Pd based materials for hydrogen storage and purification. Her research provided a thoughtful guidance for commercial hydrogen purification films. During this period, she was awarded a travel grant from the ECS Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry Division and the High Output and Publication Excellence Award from Lakehead University.
Currently, Chen pursues her PhD degree at the Electrochemical Technology Centre of the University of Guelph under the supervision of Professor Aicheng Chen. Her research focuses on renewable energy, specifically the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting process, which converts water into hydrogen and oxygen under the irradiation of solar light. The advanced PEC system to be developed in her PhD project would play a vital role in the envisaged hydrogen economy. She has authored/co-authored one book chapter, 13 peer-refereed journal articles, 12 conference papers and three industrial technical reports. Sharon has received a number of awards, including the David Holden Memorial Scholarship of the Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and the NSERC Doctoral Scholarship. She was one of two student speakers at the Emerging Materials Researchers Symposium of the 101st Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition in May 2018.
In order to foster a great understanding and promote electrochemical and solid-state science and technology, Chen has initiated the ECS University of Guelph Student Chapter and serves as chair. She is enthusiastic to host multiple activities in 2018 and to enhance her leadership skills while enriching her academic experience.
Each year, the Canada Section recognizes and rewards promising young engineers and scientists in the field of electrochemical power sources through the Canada Section Student Award. The award was established in 1987 and offers a framed certificate and a $1,500 CAD prize. The nomination deadline is February 28 of each year.
