BIOGRAPHY

Yining Liu is a Rice WaTER Institute Postdoctoral Fellow working with Prof. Qilin Li and Prof. Kai Gong. Prior to joining Rice University, Yining earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Engineering from the University of Chicago and his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University. His doctoral research focused on developing highly selective membrane systems for lithium extraction from water using naturally abundant phyllosilicate materials, with an emphasis on understanding and controlling ion transport through nanoscale membrane structures. At Rice, Yining focuses on translating the intrinsic ion selectivity of functional materials, such as solid-state electrolytes and ion sieves, into practical membrane separations through nanocomposite architectures. His research explores how material properties, membrane structure, and ion transport can be integrated to bridge the gap between highly selective functional materials and practical separation processes. His work aims to enable the selective recovery of critical materials, particularly lithium and rare earth elements, from complex aqueous streams and to translate fundamental advances in materials science into efficient and sustainable separation technologies. Beyond research, Yining enjoys fishing and collecting knives.