Dr. Guanyu Lu is Northwestern University’s inaugural Sir Fraser Stoddart Postdoctoral Fellow. His work focuses on advancing nanoscale light-matter interactions for energy and sustainability applications, including energy-efficient light sources, thermal management, and chemical sensing and conversion. His current research leverages nanophotonic materials and devices to address critical challenges in sustainable solutions, such as hydrogen detection and gas-phase chemical conversion using light. During his Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University, his research centered on polaritons—quasi-particles coupling photons with material excitations—with an emphasis on phonon polaritons for next-generation infrared emitters and optimized energy flow at the nanoscale. Among his accolades, he has been recognized as a Rising Star in Materials Science and Engineering. He is also deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists and fostering an inclusive and collaborative research community.
