Diao named to ‘AACYF Top 30 under 30’ list
Alumnus Yifan Diao was selected by the All-American Chinese Youth Federation for their 2023 “AACYF Top 30 under 30” list
Yifan Diao, who earned a doctorate in materials science & engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis in 2021, has been named among the 2023 All-American Chinese Youth Federation (AACYF) Top 30 under 30.
The annual selection by the AACYF, Los Angeles Post and other organizations recognizes outstanding Chinese American innovators, entrepreneurs and future leaders. The distinction, considered one of the most influential in the Chinese youth entrepreneurship ecosystem in the United States, aims to encourage career development and professional growth.
Diao was selected for AACYF’s list in the “Academic Research Individual Achievement” category for his accomplishments in materials research and innovation, including work in energy storage, conducting polymers and flexible electronics. As a doctoral student, he worked in the lab of Julio D’Arcy, honorary professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences, through the Institute of Materials Science & Engineering.
In 2021, Diao joined LONGi Solar, where he is senior scientist of innovative research. Diao won LONGi Solar’s Professional Service Award in 2022 and Scientific Research Star Award in 2023. To date, Diao has published 15 papers in journals such as ACS Central Science, Advanced Functional Materials, and Nature Communications. Diao holds one U.S. (international) patent and received $50,000 in business incubation funds from WashU’s Leadership and Entrepreneurial Acceleration Program (LEAP).
