ESC
Open positions

Join the Zhu Interfaces Lab

Recruiting Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers

Candidates with expertise in electrocatalysis and nanomaterials synthesis are encouraged to apply for Spring 2026 and Fall 2027.

Spring 2026 Fall 2027
Contact Prof. Zhu

Lab updates

News

Research, people, collaborations, publications, presentations, and other updates from the Zhu Interfaces Lab.

FALL 2026
Prof. Yaguang Zhu with Chuanqi Jia, Isaac Acevedo, Rylee Young, and Yan Zhao on the Texas Tech University campus at the start of Fall 2026

Welcoming our first four students to the Zhu Lab

As a new semester begins, we are excited to welcome Chuanqi Jia, Yan Zhao, Isaac Acevedo, and Rylee Young as the first four students joining the Zhu Lab.

Texas Tech University LUBBOCK, TEXAS

Our new team brings together graduate and undergraduate researchers from chemical, civil, and environmental engineering. We look forward to learning, collaborating, and building the Zhu Lab together throughout the Fall 2026 semester and beyond.

SYNCHROTRON BEAMTIME
Yaguang Zhu at the HEX beamline at Brookhaven National Laboratory during an operando electrolysis experiment

Ultrafast operando diffraction at BNL

At the NSLS-II HEX beamline, we tracked rapid diffraction changes during electrolysis in real time.

Brookhaven National Laboratory UPTON, NEW YORK
HEX Beamline NSLS-II
CASFER REU PROGRAM
Zhu Interfaces Lab members and CASFER REU summer undergraduate researchers in a Texas Tech laboratory

Welcoming Jeremiah and Sharvani as REU summer undergraduate researchers

Jeremiah and Sharvani joined the Zhu Interfaces Lab through the CASFER Research Experience for Undergraduates program for hands-on research, mentorship, and professional development.

Texas Tech University LUBBOCK, TEXAS
CASFER REU Program CASFER Summer Programs

Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation through CASFER

CASFER's summer REU places undergraduate students in active research projects and connects them with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students. During the program, Jeremiah and Sharvani developed laboratory and professional skills while contributing to research connected to sustainable fertilizer production and the nitrogen circular economy. Their participation expanded undergraduate research opportunities at Texas Tech and strengthened the lab's engagement with the broader Lubbock STEM community.

NSF ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER
CASFER faculty, researchers, students, and collaborators gathered for the 2026 NSF site visit at Texas Tech University

Collaboration at the 2026 CASFER NSF Site Visit

The Zhu Interfaces Lab joined the CASFER community for its 2026 NSF site visit—an energizing opportunity to build ambitious collaborations with outstanding scientists and engineers working toward sustainable and distributed fertilizer production.

Texas Tech University LUBBOCK, TEXAS
Visit CASFER NSF Engineering Research Centers

Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation

As a member of the NSF Engineering Research Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production (CASFER), Prof. Yaguang Zhu participated in the annual site visit hosted at Texas Tech University. Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, CASFER brings together a multidisciplinary team across five partner universities. The center offers an exceptional platform for the Zhu Interfaces Lab to connect interfacial design, electrocatalysis, nanomaterials synthesis, advanced characterization, and resource recovery through collaborative research addressing resilient and sustainable fertilizer production.

LAB LAUNCH
Aerial view of Memorial Circle and the Administration Building at Texas Tech University
Photo: Texas Tech University

A new chapter at Texas Tech

The Zhu Interfaces Lab launches at Texas Tech University, bringing interfacial design and advanced characterization together to understand materials and processes under real working conditions.

Texas Tech University LUBBOCK, TEXAS
Visit TTU CECE Visit TTU ISCE

On January 12, 2026, Dr. Yaguang Zhu joined Texas Tech University's Department of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering (CECE) and the Institute for Sustainability and Circular Economy (ISCE). The lab is building a research program that reveals how interfaces govern transport and transformations across materials, electrochemical devices, and sustainable systems.