World-renowned chemical engineer joins Asia's top university after nearly four decades in…

Chinese-born chemical engineer Yong Wang, a U.S. National Academy of Engineering member with 111 U.S. patents, has joined University of Hong Kong (HKU) after 37 years in the U.S.

HKU, ranked first in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, announced on Sept. 25 that Wang had been appointed chair professor of catalysis for sustainability and associate dean for industry engagement in its Faculty of Engineering.

The appointment came shortly after his retirement on Sept. 14 from the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Wang previously directed the laboratory's Institute for Integrated Catalysis and held the title of Laboratory Fellow, its highest distinction for research staff. He is also an emeritus Regents Professor of Chemical Engineering at Washington State University (WSU).

His research focuses on catalysis, a process in which substances called catalysts speed up chemical reactions without being consumed. His work aims to make industrial production more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

He has developed technologies to turn agricultural waste, carbon dioxide and discarded plastics into useful chemicals and fuels, as well as catalysts designed to improve vehicle efficiency and reduce emissions.

His inventions include a commercially used process that converts plant-derived glycerol into propylene glycol, an ingredient used in foods, medicines and other consumer products. He also helped establish a company developing compact reactors that turn waste into fuel, according to PNNL.

Of his 111 issued U.S. patents, more than 90% have been licensed to industry, according to HKU. He has also published nearly 500 scientific papers, including research in Nature, Science and Nature Catalysis, receiving more than 55,000 citations.

Born and raised in Kunming, southwestern China, Wang earned bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering from Chengdu University of Science and Technology in 1984 and 1987.

He later moved to the U.S., earning another master's degree in 1992 and a doctorate in chemical engineering in 1993 from Washington State University.

He joined PNNL as a postdoctoral researcher in 1994, became a permanent staff member in 1996 and was promoted to Laboratory Fellow in 2005.

In 2009, he became PNNL's first joint appointee with WSU and was named a Regents Professor in 2022.

Reflecting on his retirement, Wang described his time at WSU and PNNL as a 37-year journey in a LinkedIn post, thanking colleagues for their support throughout his career.

"Thankful for the journey, grateful for the friendships, and excited for the new chapter ahead," he wrote.

His honors include the 1999 Presidential Green Chemistry Award and the 2006 Asian American Engineer of the Year Award. He was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2025, one of the country's highest professional honors for engineers, in recognition of his advances in catalyst development and chemical engineering for energy and environmental applications.

At HKU, he will work to strengthen collaboration between academic researchers and industry and advance technologies for reducing carbon emissions, developing sustainable energy and producing environmentally friendly materials.