Zhiting Tian Awarded Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE)

By: Chrisa Dawson

Sibley School professor Zhiting Tian has been named a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government to early-career scientists and engineers.

This prestigious recognition highlights her exceptional potential for leadership and groundbreaking contributions to the fields of nanoscale thermal transport and energy conversion.

Tian, an expert in thermoelectric energy materials, microelectronics cooling, and sustainable energy solutions, is known for her innovative research on polymer-based thermal diodes, hybrid organic-inorganic material thermal conductivity, and advanced thermal management in semiconductors. Her work addresses critical challenges in national security, quantum computing, and space exploration, with far-reaching implications for energy efficiency, electronics, and global sustainability.

As the director of the ZT Research Group, Tian has pioneered advances in both computational modeling and experimental characterization of nanoscale energy transport. Since joining Cornell in 2018 as the Eugene A. Leinroth Sesquicentennial Faculty Fellow, she has led interdisciplinary research that has positioned her as a trailblazer in her field.

In addition to the PECASE honor, Dr. Tian has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the 2023 DARPA Young Faculty Award, the 2021 Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award, the 2018 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and the 2017 NSF CAREER Award, among others. These awards underscore her profound impact on the scientific community and her dedication to advancing cutting-edge technologies for the future.

The PECASE award, first established by President Bill Clinton in 1996, recognizes outstanding early-career scientists and engineers who have demonstrated exceptional promise and leadership in their respective fields.

For more information on the PECASE award, visit White House OSTP Announcement.

Tian Research Group website.

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