Education

• Ph.D., Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2015 
• M.Sc., Oil and Gas Production Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 2010
• B.Sc., Petroleum Engineering (major), China University of Petroleum (East China), 2007
• B.B.A., Business Administration (minor), China University of Petroleum (East China), 2007

Professional Experience

• Assistant Professor (tenured in 02/2026), Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas Tech University, 01/2020 – Present

✓ George F. and Joan Watford Energy Professorship, 10/2025 – Present

✓ Matejek Family Faculty Fellow, 01/2020 – 10/2025
• Co-Founder and President, Association of Geological Hydrogen (AGH), 01/2025 – Present
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Energy Resources Engineering, Stanford University, 12/2017 – 12/2019
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Mitacs Elevate Program, University of Regina, Saskatchewan Research Council, 04/2016 – 11/2017
• Reservoir Engineer, CNOOC Research Institute, Beijing, China, 12/2014 – 04/2016

Research Areas

– Carbon-zero: HydrOgen production from PEtroleum reservoirs (HOPE)
    ✓ In-situ electromagnetic-assisted catalytic heating (the inventor)
    ✓ In-situ combustion gasification (ISCG)
– Carbon-free: HydrOgen Production from the Earth’s subsurface (HOPE)
    ✓ Natural hydrogen production
    ✓ Stimulated hydrogen production from subsurface iron-rich rock formation
– Carbon-negative: hydrogen production from iron-rich rock formation with CO₂ sequestration

– CO₂ and hydrogen geological storage
– Enhanced geothermal recovery
– Enhanced oil recovery

Teaching

• PETR 5307, Enhanced Oil Recovery, Graduate level, Spring 2020 – Present
• PETR 4324, Data Analytics in Petroleum Engineering, Undergraduate level, Fall 2020 – Present

Awards

1. Emerging Inventor of the Year, Texas Tech University, 2024.
2. SPE Regional Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award, Society of Petroleum Engineers International, 2024.
3. The Daneshy International Award for Best Invention on Energy Transition, 2023.
4. Interpore – PoreLab Award for Young Researchers, 2018 (Link)
5. Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation – Postdoctoral, 2017 (Link)
6. Best Paper Award, International Conference on Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow, 2015
7. Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Graduate Award, University of Calgary, 2014
8. Graduate Excellence Scholarship, University of Calgary, 2013, 2014
9. Dr. Roger Butler Memorial Graduate Scholarship, University of Calgary, 2012

Professional Service Activities

• Journal Editorial Boards
1. Associate Editor, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2019–2024
2. Associate Editor, Petroleum Science and Technology, 2022–2024
3. Guest Editor, Energies (Special Issue), 2022
4. Co-Guest Editor, Geofluids (Special Issue), 2021
5. Co-Guest Editor, Geofluids (Special Issue), 2020–2022

• Conference Committees and Judges
1. Chair, Gordon Research Conference – Geologic Hydrogen, 2026 (Link)
2. Chair, AGU Fall Meeting Session on Natural Hydrogen, 2023–2025
3. Minisymposium Co-Organizer, InterPore, 2021–2022
4. Session Chair, AGU Fall Meeting, 2021
5. Convener, AGU Fall Meeting, 2021
6. Minisymposium Organizer, InterPore, 2018

• Grant Reviewer
1. Mitacs Elevate and Accelerate Programs, 2017–Present
2. Panelist, NSF Fluid Dynamics Program, 2021

• Technical Reviewer Experience
Reviewed for: Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, Fuel, Energy & Fuels, Energies, Transport in Porous Media, Chemical Engineering Journal, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Journal of Energy Resources Technology, International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Petroleum

Professional Affiliations

1. Co-Founder and President, Association of Geological Hydrogen (AGH)
2. Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
3. Member, International Society for Porous Media (InterPore)
4. Member, American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Outreach Activities

1. Volunteer, IEA Technology Collaboration Programme – Natural Hydrogen Committee, 2024
2. Subject Matter Expert in Alternative Energy, Homeland Defense & Security, 2022–Present
3. Advisory Member, Texas Hydrogen Alliance, 2022–Present
4. Education & Outreach Coordinator, IPHE Early Career Network, 2020–2024
5. InterPore Student Poster Award Committee Member, 2018
6. Judge, Canada-Wide Science Fair, 2017
7. Judge, Alberta Graduate Conference, 2011