Dr. Weifan Chen is Team Leader of the Rare-Earth Research Institute and Discipline Leader of the National Innovation Center for Rare-Earth Functional Materials at Nanchang University. After more than ten years of R&D in metallurgical and chemical technologies in state-owned and Hong Kong-invested enterprises, he obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Nanjing University of Science & Technology in January 2007. He joined the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanchang University, in April 2007 and was a visiting scholar at Monash University (Australia) from September 2017 to September 2018. He currently serves as Council Member of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths, Committee Member of the Rare-Earth Polishing Materials & Surface-Interface Processing Technology Division, Committee Member of the Rare-Metal Metallurgy Division of the Non-Ferrous Metals Society of China, Expert of the Low-Carbon Coating Committee of China Association of Building Energy Efficiency, and Member of the Jiangxi Rare-Earth Standardization Committee. He has directed four projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), one sub-project of the National Key Technology R&D Program, one Jiangxi Provincial Key Technology R&D Program, two Jiangxi Provincial NSFC projects, two Jiangxi Provincial Education Department projects, and several industry-commercialization projects. He has published ~100 SCI papers and obtained >70 invention patents (first inventor). His achievements have earned one Second Prize of Jiangxi Provincial Science & Technology Progress and one Third Prize of Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science, with several technologies commercialized.

• [1] - Sep 2017–Sep 2018 Monash University, Australia Visiting Scholar
• [2] - Apr 2007–present School of Physics and Materials, Nanchang University

• [1]Jiangxi Key Technology R&D Program “Industrial preparation technology of nano yttria-based oxides” (No. 20132BBE50004, completed)
• [2]NSFC “Solution combustion controlled synthesis and luminescence of phosphors for white LEDs” (No. 21061011, completed)
• [3]NSFC “Graphene-oxide colloidal assemblies for adsorption/desorption of trace rare-earth ions in mining wastewater” (No. 51464033, completed)
• [4]NSFC “Graphene-oxide colloidal assemblies for adsorption/desorption of trace rare-earth ions in mining wastewater” (No. 51464033, completed)
• [5]NSFC “Solid-phase controlled synthesis and structure–property relationships of tungsten-bronze nano-sheets for NIR absorption” (No. 21761020, completed)