Monash announces new appointment to its joint research institute in China

Monash University

Monash University has announced the appointment of Professor Aibing Yu as Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of its new Monash University-Southeast University Joint Research Institute in Suzhou, China.

Monash is the only Australian university to be granted a licence to operate in China, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies. The establishment of the Monash University-Southeast University Joint Research Institute will complement the Joint Graduate School (Suzhou), which officially opened in October 2013.

This key leadership position comes at crucial time when China is increasingly important to Australia’s economic future. Both universities have world-recognised strengths in engineering, health and science. The collaboration with SEU will strengthen the University’s reputation for being innovative and internationally focused.

Professor Yu joins Monash from the University of New South Wales, where he is Scientia Professor of the School of Materials Science and Engineering. Commencing in April, he will report to Academic Vice President (China and India) Professor Tam Sridhar.  Professor Yu has also been appointed a Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow of Monash University.

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Aibing Yu to Monash. He will provide leadership and on the ground support, facilitating the University’s partnership with Southeast University (SEU),” Professor Sridhar said.

“This initiative will produce postgraduates and researchers with ideas to change people’s lives in the region and the world for the better. Professor Yu’s extensive research experience will ensure we achieve this vision.”

The Monash University-Southeast University Joint Graduate School and Joint Research Institute are based at the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) – one of the largest innovation precincts in China. A hub of 21st century brainpower, it hosts more than 100 Fortune, 500 companies and 15 international universities and research institutes.

Specialising in process metallurgy, Professor Aibing Yu obtained a BEng in 1982, a MEng in 1985 from Northeastern University, a PhD in 1990 from the University of Wollongong (UoW), and a DSc in 2007 from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

He is a recipient of a number of prestigious awards and fellowships including ARC Federation Fellowship, Josef Kapitan Award from Iron and Steel Society (ISS), Ian Wark Medal from Australian Academy of Science, Exxon Mobil Award from Australian and New Zealand Federation of Chemical Engineers, and NSW Scientist of Year 2010. He was elected to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) in 2004, and to the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) in 2011