Eight research projects from the University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI, JI hereafter) have secured financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for 2024. This achievement was announced following the release of the NSFC’s evaluation results for projects accepted during the annual application period.
The funded projects include one under the Research Fund for International Excellent Scholars, four under the General Program, and three under the Young Scientists Fund, with a youth funding rate of 35%. The projects span three divisions of the NSFC: Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Engineering and Materials Sciences, and Information Sciences. The research areas covered by these projects are diverse, ranging from computational solid mechanics, multi-field and multi-medium coupling, and flow control, to mechanical structural strength, combustion science, multifunctional material integration and devices, electromagnetic fields and waves, systems engineering theory and technology, robotics, and intelligent systems.
The NSFC is a key funding source for basic research in China and a vital component of the national innovation system. It primarily supports researchers from higher education institutions and research organizations that demonstrate strong research capabilities and excellent research conditions. The NSFC is regarded as the highest level of scientific research funding in the field of basic natural sciences in China. It has significantly contributed to advancing basic research, fostering the development of fundamental disciplines, and discovering and nurturing outstanding scientific and technological talent. Additionally, the NSFC’s Research Fund for International Excellent Scholars is designed to attract exceptional foreign researchers to conduct independent research in China. This program encourages these scholars to engage in foundational research within the scope of NSFC funding, fostering long-term, stable academic collaboration and exchange between international and Chinese scholars.
JI’s continued success in securing NSFC funding demonstrates the institute’s strong commitment to advancing fundamental scientific research and exploring the frontiers of interdisciplinary fields. This accomplishment is a testament to the innovative capabilities of JI’s faculty and their dedication to excellence in research.
List of JI projects sponsored by NSFC in 2024
| No. | Name | Project Title | |
| 1 | Yuljae Cho | Study on Triboelectric Material and Nanogenerator | |
| 2 | Yongxing Shen | Modeling and Phase Field Simulation for the Fatigue Cracking Behaviors of Superalloy Components under Synergistic Mechanical-Thermo-Oxygen Effects | |
| 3 | Yanfeng Shen | Theory and Methodology of Nonlinear Zero Group Velocity Guided Waves for Health Monitoring of Composite Structures | |
| 4 | Xuyang Lu | Research on Wireless Power Transfer and In-water Propulsion Technology for Chip-Level Micro-Robots | |
| 5 | Li Jin | Learning-Based Network Control and Its Security Theory | |
| 6 | Zhongqiang Ren | Integrated Task and Motion Planning For Multi-Robot Systems in Dynamic Environments | |
| 7 | Yu Cang | Evolution dynamics of the composite propellant gas-solid burning interface under extremely high pressure | |
| 8 | Fengnian Zhao | Mechanism of three-dimensional coupling between ambient vortex flow and fuel spray under wide superheated conditions |