National Taiwan University

Porous Membrane Materials Lab

Yu-Ming Tu
https://ymtu-lab.com/

Research Field

Chemical Engineering

Introduction

Yu-Ming Tu is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at National Taiwan University (NTU). Yu-Ming completed his Ph.D. in 2021 under the supervision of Profs. Benny D. Freeman and Manish Kumar in Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He undertook postdoctoral training with Prof. Michael S. Strano in Chemical Engineering at MIT from 2022 to 2024. His previous research has received several recognitions and awards from the Department of Energy (DOE) (2024), the Materials Research Society (MRS) (2022), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) (2021), and the North American Membrane Society (NAMS) (2021). Yu-Ming joined the National Taiwan University (NTU, Taiwan) as an Assistant Professor and received the Talent Recruitment Research Grant in August 2024.

Yu-Ming returned to National Taiwan University (NTU, Taiwan) in August 2024, about half a year from now. 

My research team consists of one (jointly appointed) research assistant, four master's students, four pre-master's students (admitted through the direct admission program in their senior year), including one international student from the Philippines, and three undergraduate research students.

Please find more details and recent news on my lab website,  https://ymtu-lab.com/


Research Topics

Yu-Ming's research focuses on developing two-dimensional (2D) polymeric high-density porous materials and thin films for sustainable separation technologies and quantum sensing devices to address global challenges related to resource shortages and energy issues. Key areas include ion transport phenomena, battery separators, nanofiltration, rare earth metal ion recovery, seawater desalination, membrane distillation, membrane fouling mechanisms, and energy utilization. 

Our current primary areas: 

a)Droplet interfacial bilayers (DIBs) System: fluid dynamics, ion separations, and conversions under 1D nanoscale confinement.

b)2D organic polymeric materials: structure arrangement, self-assembly, and nanoporous channel design

c)Robust, self-healing 2D porous membranes and quantum sensing devices: ion detection under 2D confinement, cancer cell detection, and in-situ battery protective layers

d)3D in-situ simulation for micro/nanoparticle filtration and membrane fouling prediction


Honor

2024 Talent Recruitment Research Grants for three years, National Taiwan University (2024 國立臺灣大學延攬人才研究補助 核定三年)

2024 The Incentives for Newly Hired Exceptional Talent, National Taiwan University (2024 國立臺灣大學新聘特殊優秀人才 初次獎勵一年)

2023 2nd Place in DOE EFRC Center at CENT Symposium Poster Competition

2023 1st Place in 2023 CENT Lightning Talk, the Representative to Attend DOE Annual Meeting

2022 Silver Winner Materials Research Society (MRS) Spring Meeting Graduate Student Award

2021 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Separations Division Graduate Student Research Award of Membrane Area 

2021 AIChE 8A Excellence in Polymer Graduate Research Symposium Finalist

2021 North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Student Fellowship Award 

2021 Fall ’21 Professional Development Award at The University of Texas at Austin

2021 George J. Heuer, Jr. Ph.D. Endowed Graduate Fellowship at The University of Texas at Austin

2021 Honorable Mention in “1-Min Quick Pitch” NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Competition

2021 Graduate and Industry Networking (GAIN) Department Award at The University of Texas at Austin

2020 2nd Prize in North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Poster Competition

2019 Elias Klein Founders’ Travel Supplement Program in North American Membrane Society (NAMS) meeting


Educational Background
  • 2024 迄今 國立台灣大學化學工程學系 助理教授

      2024 – Present Assistant Professor in Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University

  • 2023-2024 美國能源部研究中心 (DOE EFRC Center at CENT) 研究統籌管理人員

      2023-2024 Associate Executive Officer for Communications, CENT, a DOE EFRC Center (Advisor: Prof. Michael S. Strano)

  • 2022-2024 美國麻省理工學院 化學工程學系 博士後研究員

      2022-2024 Postdoctoral Associate in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Advisor: Prof. Michael S. Strano)

  • 2021-2022 美國德州大學奧斯汀分校 化學工程學系 博士後研究員

      2021-2022 Postdoctoral Associate in Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin  (Advisor: Prof. Manish Kumar and Prof.  Benny D. Freeman)

  • 2017-2021 美國德州大學奧斯汀分校 化學工程學系 博士

      2017-2021 Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin (Advisor: Prof. Manish Kumar and Prof. Benny D. Freeman)

  • 2013-2015 國立臺灣大學 化學工程學系 碩士

      2013-2015 M.S. in Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University (Advisor: Prof. Ling Chao)

  • 2009-2013 國立成功大學 化學工程學系 學士

      2009-2013 B.S. in Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University


2 Vacancies

Job Description

- Draft technical paper for scientific publication

- Manage and execute research project activities, ensuring timely and accurate completion.

Preferred Intern Education Level

PhD student  or above

Skill sets or Qualities

- PhD student with a background in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Material Science. 

- Experience in membrane-related research and characterization.

- Strong research skills and self-motivated

- Proficiency in analytical instrumentation and laboratory techniques, SEM, TEM, XPS, etc.

- Effective project management abilities and collaborative research experience.

- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.