We are proud to share that Mr Qing XIA, a PhD student from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been selected as a 2026 Schmidt Science Fellow — the first ever PolyU student to receive this prestigious honour!
Remarkably, Qing is the only student from Hong Kong honoured with the fellowship this year. This historic success not only reflects Qing XIA’s exceptional talent, but also PolyU’s dedicated commitment in advancing research excellence and nurturing the next generation of world-class scholars.
Recognised globally as one of the most prestigious opportunities for early career scientists, the Schmidt Science Fellows programme empowers fellows to pursue an ambitious interdisciplinary pivot by embarking on postdoctoral research in a new field beyond their PhD. With only about 30 fellows selected each year from hundreds of nominees worldwide, this achievement represents exceptional calibre and distinction.
“Qing will explore a new way to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers without the high energy use and pollution associated with traditional methods, which rely on high temperatures and high pressures.
Qing’s method will use physical forces such as vibration, light, and sound to create highly reactive particles that can break apart nitrogen from the air, turning it into useful forms.
The aim of Qing’s research is to design a small, efficient, modular nitrogen-fixation system that works under normal conditions, supports low-carbon agriculture, and helps reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based fertilizers worldwide. The approach aims to reduce global emissions and to support more sustainable, accessible food production.
Qing will pivot from Electrocatalysis to Physical Engineering.”
We are immensely proud of Qing’s achievement and look forward to the transformative contributions he will bring to the global society.
Meet the 2026 Schmidt Science Fellows.
