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He Shan

Hi, I am He Shan, a Research Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National University of Singapore, working with Professor Ghim Wei Ho, Vice Provost of NUS. I received my joint PhD from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the National University of Singapore. My research lies at the intersection of materials science, thermal engineering, and transport phenomena. I develop tailored materials and integrated systems for water-energy-food nexus applications, including atmospheric water harvesting, thermal management, controlled-environment agriculture, catalysis, and energy efficiency.

My work combines thermodynamic modeling, physics-based simulation, and heat and mass transfer analysis to understand hydrogel materials and related thermal systems. I am also expanding into physics-guided machine learning for accelerated materials discovery, device optimization, and performance prediction. I welcome collaborations in water harvesting, sustainable soft materials, thermal energy systems, and AI for materials and systems.

Education

  1. Apr. 2025 - Now

    Research Fellow, National University of Singapore

    Research Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

  2. Sep. 2019 - Mar. 2025

    Joint Ph.D. (Hons), Shanghai Jiao Tong University and National University of Singapore

    Major: Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics at SJTU; Materials Science and Engineering at NUS.

  3. Sep. 2015 - Jun. 2019

    B. Eng. (Hons, First-Ranked), Chongqing University

    Major: Energy and Power Engineering.

Fellowships

  1. Stanford Energy Fellowship

    2026

    Stanford University

  2. Graduate Development Fellowship

    2025

    Shanghai Jiao Tong University

  3. Selected Awards and Honors

  4. Top Ten Scientific and Technological Advances

    2025

    Shanghai Jiao Tong University

  5. Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award Nomination

    2026

    Shanghai Jiao Tong University

  6. Graduate Academic Star

    2023

    Shanghai Jiao Tong University | 1 of 10 across all departments

  7. National Scholarship for Graduate Students

    2024, 2023

    National Level | Top 0.2%

  8. National Scholarship for Undergraduate Students

    2017, 2016

    National Level | Top 0.2%

  9. Outstanding Graduates of Shanghai

    2025

    Shanghai | Top 1%

  10. Xia Anshi Scholarship

    2024

    National Level | 1 of 4 across 15 universities

  11. SMC Yoshiyuki Takada Scholarship

    2020

    SMC Corporation

  12. Excellence Scholarships

    2015-2025

    University Level | Top 1%

  13. DeCarbon Young Scholar Award

    2023

    Elsevier DeCarbon Journal

  14. Top Ten Outstanding Winner, National University Student Social Practice and Science Contest on Energy Saving and Emission Reduction

    2023

    National University Student Contest

Selected Publications

  1. Graphical abstract for commercial atmospheric water harvesting thermodynamic boundaries

    Approaching thermodynamic boundaries and targeting market players for commercial atmospheric water harvesting

    Joule, 2025

    • Analyze cooling- and sorption-based water harvesting approaches to determine the thermodynamic minimum specific energy consumption.
    • Quantify current water-production yields, energy consumption, and unit economics across market players and their technologies.
    • Provide transparent technology and market insights for decision-makers and investors in this fast-evolving field.
  2. Review figure for hygroscopic salt-embedded composite materials

    Hygroscopic salt-embedded composite materials for sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting

    Nature Reviews Materials, 2024

    • Establishes a unified thermodynamic framework for the rational design of hygroscopic salt-embedded composites, enabling targeted control of capacity, kinetics, sorption enthalpy, and stability.
    • Models the salt-matrix-water ensemble as a ternary system and uses vapor-pressure differentials, salt-water phase diagrams, and differential enthalpies to link structural variables to performance metrics.
    • Enables precise, predictable, climate- and energy-input-aware materials design tailored to local conditions, supporting high performance and broad applicability across sorption-based AWH systems.
  3. Graphical abstract for portable atmospheric water harvester in semi-arid climate

    Exceptional water production yield enabled by batch-processed portable water harvester in semi-arid climate

    Nature Communications, 2022

    • Implemented a newly proposed batch processing strategy: multi-segment sorption during humid nights plus staged desorption during dry days, optimized for semi-arid climate.
    • Field trials in Lanzhou, China demonstrated the portable, compact harvester producing >300 g water per day under such arid conditions.
  4. Graphical abstract for sorption thermal battery enabled by polyzwitterionic gel

    Harvesting thermal energy and freshwater from air through sorption thermal battery enabled by polyzwitterionic gel

    ACS Energy Letters, 2023

    • Modeling: Develops a thermodynamic framework to quantify thermal energy release and water-harvesting potential, prioritizing thermal energy density to guide materials-system co-design.
    • Materials: Designs a zwitterionic hydrogel with a high density of ionic groups, enabling strong salt-locking and generating high osmotic pressure for fast water uptake.
    • Systems: Demonstrates dual harvesting of water and thermal energy from ambient air for building temperature and humidity control, achieving a moisture-battery energy density that exceeds that of lithium-ion batteries.

Conference Participated

  1. Dec. 2025

    Moisture-Sorbing Materials for the Water-Energy-Food Nexus

    Singapore Scientific Conference 2025

    Singapore

  2. June 2025

    Moisture-Sorbing Materials for the Water-Energy-Food Nexus

    12th International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies

    Singapore

  3. Nov. 2024

    Desorption Enthalpy and Energy Efficiency of Sorption-Based Water Harvesting System: A Thermodynamic Analysis

    Engineering Thermodynamics and Energy Utilization Branch of the Engineering Thermophysics Society

    Xiamen, China

  4. Jul. 2024

    Understanding Heat and Mass Transfer Mechanisms for Enhancing 3D Solar Evaporators

    Chinese Materials Conference 2024 and The 2nd World Materials Conference

    Guangzhou, China

  5. Apr. 2024

    Sorption-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting and Its Passive Cooling Applications

    11th Asian Conference on Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

    Jeju, Korea

  6. Jul. 2023

    Energy-Water-Food Nexus in Sorption-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting

    7th International Conference on Polygeneration

    Bali, Indonesia

  7. Jul. 2023

    Sorption-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting Using Hydrogels

    1st DeCarbon International Conference

    Chongqing, China

  8. Nov. 2023

    Sorption-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting and Its Applications

    Cross-Strait Symposium on Energy and Environmental Science and Technology

    Kyushu, Japan

  9. Jul. 2021

    2nd International Conference on Energy and Built Environment for Chinese Scholars

    Energy and Built Environment Conference

    Chengdu, China

  10. Dec. 2020

    Engineering Thermodynamics and Energy Utilization Branch of the Engineering Thermophysics Society

    Engineering Thermophysics Society

    Shanghai, China

  11. Sep. 2020

    11th National Conference on New Technologies in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

    National Conference on Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

    Changsha, China