Tsinghua University recently conferred the 2025 “Tsinghua University Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow” award. Among the 10 distinguished recipients is Dr. Bian Jiyong, a postdoctoral fellow from the Center for Water and Ecology at the School of Environment, Tsinghua University.

Dr. Bian Jiyong conducting experiments and participating in an academic conference.

Dr. Bian obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 2022. He subsequently joined the School of Environment at Tsinghua University for postdoctoral research, working under the mentorship of Academician Qu Jiuhui and Professor Liu Ruiping.

His research primarily focuses on interfacial electron transfer and the microbial treatment of nitrogen pollutants. To date, Dr. Bian has published 5 SCI papers as the first or corresponding author in prestigious journals such as Angewandte Chemie International Edition and Water Research, along with 6 co-authored papers. He holds 3 authorized invention patents and has filed an additional 8 patent applications. Furthermore, he has led four major research initiatives, including projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.

Dr. Bian Jiyong sharing research experiences with fellow postdoctoral researchers.

Driven by the dual demands of China’s “Dual Carbon” strategy and global nitrogen pollution control, Dr. Bian has adopted a “learning from nature” approach to interdisciplinary innovation, centered on regulating electron transfer at enzyme and microbial interfaces. His key scientific contributions include designing hybrid bionic nano-enzyme/natural enzyme complexes and revealing the structure-activity relationships and synergistic catalytic mechanisms of artificial enzyme active sites; proposing a dual-direction metabolic pathway regulation strategy using different wavelengths of visible light to achieve efficient nitrite accumulation, offering innovative solutions for engineering challenges in anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox); establishing a new paradigm for directional ammonia synthesis via photo/electric-cascade enzyme synergistic catalysis and developing new technologies for high-value nitrogen conversion using microbial quorum sensing to regulate interspecies electron transfer.

By translating fundamental scientific principles into key technological processes and equipment, Dr. Bian’s work is driving large-scale engineering applications, providing vital support for high-value nitrogen utilization and global pollution governance.

Dr. Bian Jiyong in discussion with team members.

Established in 1997, the “Tsinghua University Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow” award is presented annually. It aims to recognize in-station postdoctoral researchers who have completed at least one year of research with excellent mid-term evaluations, demonstrating a rigorous scientific style, an outstanding pioneering spirit, and creative research achievements. To date, 14 postdoctoral fellows from the SOE have received this prestigious honor.