Posted on August 23, 2024 by College of Sciences
#AwesomeAlum
Yi Xie
By Ryan Schoensee
Meet Yi Xie, who is from Guangdong, China, and graduated from the UTSA College of Sciences last year with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. His journey to UTSA started in 2019 and was driven by a passion for cutting-edge research and a desire to make an impact within the field of chemistry.
Xie chose to attend UTSA because it aligned with his research interests. "The university offered me the ideal setting to pursue my passion for research," said Xie. "The exceptional facilities and environment made UTSA the obvious choice for me."
At UTSA, Xie performed research in a lab under Banglin Chen, a UTSA professor in the Department of Chemistry who has since retired. Xie worked on building porous molecular framework materials with the chemistry of metal-organic coordination bonds and hydrogen bonds. He engineered crystalline materials at a sub-nanometer level to realize specific molecular recognitions for energy-efficient chemical separation processes and carbon capture.
As a Roadrunner, Xie was able to explore his research interests and collaborate with leading researchers. He is grateful for the financial support he received at UTSA, which included multiple travel grants and fellowships. This funding allowed him to travel, make connections, and present his research at national conferences.
"UTSA's supportive environment creates an optimal setting for students to thrive and pursue their academic and research interests," said Xie.
Xie also found a strong sense of community within the chemistry department. "It's a small, close-knit group where everyone is not just colleagues but also good friends," he said. "The supportiveness of faculty, staff, and fellow students made my time at UTSA truly enjoyable and rewarding."
During Xie's final year at UTSA, he was the only and last student in Dr. Chen's lab, presenting him with a unique challenge. This experience taught him valuable lessons in independence and self-reliance. He took full ownership of his research, practiced giving presentations, wrote a thesis, applied for fellowships, made crucial research decisions, communicated with collaborators and managed a grant. Navigating these responsibilities largely on his own significantly enhanced his ability to work autonomously and manage various tasks effectively.
Additionally, almost half of Xie's doctoral studies were heavily impacted by COVID-19. He had no in-person classes and faced limitations in the number of conferences he could attend. During quarantine, he took the initiative to learn molecular simulations and density functional theory (DFT), computational methods used in chemistry based on classical and quantum mechanics to calculate the electronic structures and study the fundamental properties of solid-state molecular materials. These doctoral experiences over the pandemic helped expand his skill set and were beneficial for teaching him how to adapt and thrive in challenging situations.
Xie's advice to new students interested in studying chemistry is to think early about your career goals and tailor your experiences accordingly. "Different career pathways, whether in industry or academia, will require different preparations," he said. "Start networking early on and take advantage of conferences to connect with peers and professionals in your field. Building a strong network and being proactive in your career development can greatly enhance your academic experience and future opportunities."
Xie is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, where he focuses on leveraging supramolecular chemistry to build new self-assembled crystalline nanomaterials accelerated by computational methods. These methods precisely assemble tiny nanoparticles into superlattices, leading to materials with unique symmetry and tailored properties for photonic, mechanical, and metamaterials applications.
Xie's future goals include establishing himself as an independent researcher in crystalline molecular materials. Over the next few years, he aims to build on the knowledge and skills he developed at UTSA to create innovative solutions and make a meaningful impact in his field.
"UTSA has played a crucial role in shaping my career path," said Xie. "The university's strong focus on research and its supportive environment provided me with valuable opportunities to explore my interests and develop the skills necessary for my field."
— College of Sciences
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