Dr. Tsz Lok Wan | Water-Energy Nexus | Best Researcher Award
Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Alberta, Canada
Dr. Tsz Lok Wan is a highly accomplished researcher specializing in computational materials science, with a focus on clean energy, environmental sustainability, and advanced catalysis. He holds a Ph.D. from Queensland University of Technology, where he earned multiple prestigious scholarships and the High Achiever Award. His research integrates chemistry, physics, and engineering to design and simulate innovative materials using advanced first-principles calculations and modeling tools. Dr. Wan has authored several high-impact publications in top-tier journals such as Nanoscale, Advanced Materials Technologies, and Journal of Materials Chemistry A, contributing significantly to the understanding of ferroelectric materials and their role in energy and environmental applications. With international research experience across Australia, Hong Kong, and Canada, and active participation in major scientific conferences, he demonstrates strong global engagement and academic leadership. Currently serving as a Young Editorial Board Member at the University of Alberta, Dr. Wan exemplifies the qualities of a forward-thinking and impactful researcher, making him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award.
Professional Profile
Education
Dr. Tsz Lok Wan has a robust academic background in engineering and materials science, beginning with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from Queensland University of Technology, where he conducted theoretical investigations into the mechanical properties of graphene and carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials. He further advanced his expertise by completing a Master of Engineering Science in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Queensland, focusing his thesis on characterizing the surface force of nanowires. Building on this foundation, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy from Queensland University of Technology, where his research centered on ferroelectric-controllable gas capture and catalysis for environmental and energy applications. His doctoral studies were supported by several prestigious scholarships, including the ARC Discovery Scholarship, QUT HDR Tuition Fee Sponsorship, and the Faculty Write-Up Scholarship, and culminated in receiving the High Achiever Award in 2022 for outstanding academic performance.
Professional Experience
Dr. Tsz Lok Wan has accumulated diverse professional experience across academia and industry, reflecting a strong foundation in research, innovation, and engineering practice. He is currently serving as a Young Editorial Board Member at the University of Alberta’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, contributing to academic leadership and scholarly review. In parallel, he is involved in a carbon neutralization research initiative, further aligning his work with global sustainability goals. Previously, he held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he contributed to advanced image analysis and software development for medical applications. His earlier experiences include research internships at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he worked on electrocardiograph circuit development and 3D ultrasound image analysis, respectively. Additionally, he gained hands-on engineering experience during an internship at Po Shing Construction Limited, where he calibrated engineering drawings and supported site workflow procedures. These roles have collectively equipped Dr. Wan with a blend of theoretical acumen and practical skills across computational modeling, biomedical engineering, and construction technology.
Research Interest
Dr. Tsz Lok Wan’s research interests lie at the dynamic intersection of chemistry, physics, and engineering, with a primary focus on the development of advanced materials for clean energy, environmental sustainability, and electronic applications. He is particularly interested in the use of computational modeling and first-principles calculations, such as Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics (AIMD), to understand and predict the behavior of materials at the atomic scale. His work explores ferroelectric-controlled catalysis, gas adsorption, and the design of two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures for applications such as hydrogen evolution and nitrogen reduction reactions. By simulating chemical reactions and material interactions that are difficult to observe experimentally, Dr. Wan aims to accelerate the discovery of efficient, sustainable catalysts and contribute to the global transition toward low-carbon technologies.
Award and Honor
Dr. Tsz Lok Wan has received several prestigious awards and honors in recognition of his academic excellence and research contributions. During his doctoral studies at Queensland University of Technology, he was the recipient of the ARC Discovery Scholarship, the QUT HDR Tuition Fee Sponsorship, and the Faculty Write-Up Scholarship, reflecting his strong academic standing and research potential. In 2022, he was honored with the High Achiever Award, acknowledging his outstanding performance and impact in the field of computational materials science. These accolades underscore his dedication to advancing knowledge in clean energy and environmental applications through innovative theoretical research.
Conclusion
Tsz Lok Wan demonstrates exemplary academic performance, technical proficiency, and research productivity in high-impact areas like sustainable catalysis and clean energy materials. While there is room to strengthen leadership and translational aspects of his research, his consistent contributions, especially in computational materials science, make him a highly suitable candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly in the early-to-mid career category.
Publications Top Noted
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Title: Catalysis based on ferroelectrics: controllable chemical reaction with boosted efficiency
Authors: TL Wan, L Ge, Y Pan, Q Yuan, L Liu, S Sarina, L Kou
Year: 2021
Citation: 50
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Title: Rational design of 2D ferroelectric heterogeneous catalysts for controllable hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: TL Wan, J Liu, X Tan, T Liao, Y Gu, A Du, S Smith, L Kou
Year: 2022
Citation: 15
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Title: Ferroelectric Controlled Gas Adsorption in Doped Graphene/In2Se3 Heterostructure
Authors: TL Wan, J Shang, Y Gu, L Kou
Year: 2022
Citation: 12
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Title: Density Functional Theory Studies on Magnetic Manipulation in NiI2 Layers
Authors: M Liu, L Zhang, J Liu, TL Wan, A Du, Y Gu, L Kou
Year: 2023
Citation: 11
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Title: Synergistic engineering of heterovalent states and sulfur-vacancy defects in Co/O co-doped ZnS for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: L Chen, B Wu, X Wu, DH Kuo, TL Wan, B Yang, P Zhang, Z Su, J Lin, D Lu, X Chen
Year: 2025
Citation: 7
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Title: Bimetallic conjugated metal–organic frameworks as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting
Authors: TL Wan, J Liu, X Tan, M Liu, S Smith, L Kou
Year: 2023
Citation: 4
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Title: Enhanced Activity and Selectivity for Nitrogen Reduction Reaction in Electrides‐Based Heterostructures: A DFT Computational Study
Authors: H Wijesingha, TL Wan, J Liu, L Kou
Year: 2024
Citation: 3
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Title: Magnetic skyrmions and their manipulations in a 2D multiferroic CuCrP₂Te₆ monolayer
Authors: M Liu, TL Wan, K Dou, L Zhang, W Sun, J Jiang, Y Ma, Y Gu, L Kou
Year: 2024
Citation: 3
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Title: Mo-cation/O-anion doping strategy for creating vacancy defects and cation multivalency to enhance the hydrogen evolution of ZnS under visible light
Authors: X Wu, TL Wan, B Yang, DH Kuo, P Zhang, M Liu, SN Adawara, D Fang Lu, J Lin, X Chen
Year: 2025
Citation: Not available yet
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Title: Ferroelectric controllable gas capture and catalysis for environmental and energy application (PhD Thesis)
Author: TL Wan
Year: 2024
Citation: Not applicable
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Title: Ferroelectric Controlled Gas Adsorption in Doped Graphene/In2Se3 Heterostructure (Duplicate journal entry in Adv. Mater. Technol.)
Authors: TL Wan, J Shang, Y Gu, L Kou
Year: 2022
Citation: Not listed separately (already counted above)
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Title: Characterizing of Surface Forces of Nanowires (Master’s Thesis)
Author: TL Wan
Year: 2020
Citation: Not applicable
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