The NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute (NUS GRTII) welcomes its new leader: Effective from March 1, 2026, Professor Dan Zhao has been appointed as Director of the Institute, joining all colleagues to embark on a new chapter in the Institute's development!

Director Profile

Professor Dan Zhao

Deeply engaged in cutting-edge academia, driving industrial transformation!

Professor Dan Zhao is currently a faculty member of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS). As a distinguished scholar in the field of porous materials, he has long been dedicated to advancing frontier research and academic development in clean energy and environmental sustainability. He enjoys wide influence in both academia and industry and has been repeatedly named to the list of Highly Cited Researchers™ (global top 1%).

Professor Dan Zhao's research focuses on the design, synthesis, evaluation, and scale-up of advanced porous materials, particularly Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs). These materials are regarded as core enablers for next-generation gas storage and separation technologies, with applications spanning carbon capture and emission reduction, efficient separation and purification in natural gas/hydrogen energy systems, as well as lower-energy industrial separation processes.

To date, Professor Dan Zhao has published over 280 peer-reviewed papers in top international journals such as Science, Nature Materials, Nature Communications, PNAS, JACS, and Angewandte Chemie International Edition. His work has garnered more than 30,000 citations, and he holds over 30 patent applications. He is also a co-founder and shareholder of several startup companies. In addition, he serves as an editor or advisory board member for more than ten journals and co-chaired the 9th International Conference on Metal-Organic Frameworks and Open Framework Compounds (MOF2024) held in Singapore in 2024. His research not only pushes the boundaries of academia but also provides industry with key insights and technically scalable pathways for translation.

As a flagship platform for the National University of Singapore's participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, NUS GRTII is committed to promoting the translation of international scientific and technological achievements, facilitating two-way talent mobility, and serving regional industrial upgrading.

As Professor Dan Zhao assumes the role of Director, NUS GRTII embarks on a new chapter. Under his leadership, the Institute will expand domestic and international partnerships, accelerate the implementation of technology transfer projects, and strengthen its research presence and industrial influence in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. These efforts will contribute significantly to establishing the Greater Bay Area as a new global hub for technological innovation and industrial application.

NUS Guangzhou Research Translation and Innovation Institute

March 17, 2026