The 2024 National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) K.T. Li Technology and Literature Lectureships Award Honors Outstanding Scholars in Research, Industry-Academia Collaboration, and Talent Cultivation
Written by Amber Tyan. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
Group photo of the 2024 NCKU K.T. Li Technology and Literature Lectureships Award awardees and presenters; from left to right: Prof. Yen-Chen Liu (attending in place of Prof. Chao-Chieh Lan), Associate Professor Watchareeya Kaveevivitchai, Research Fellow Chun-Yen Chen, Associate Professor Ting-Yuan Tu, Distinguished Professor Ju-Ming Wang, NCKU President Prof. Meng-Ru Shen, Delta Electronics' Senior Vice President, Mr. Shou-Feng Chin, Distinguished Professor Tsorng-Juu Liang, Distinguished Professor Chih-Lung Lin, and Distinguished Professor Yueh-Nan Chen.
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) hosted the 2024 K.T. Li Technology and Literature Lectureships Awards ceremony on November 8th at the Cheng-Kung Campus’ Ge-Chi Hall. NCKU President, Prof. Meng-Ru Shen, and Delta Electronics Senior Vice President, Mr. Shou-Feng Chin, jointly honored eight distinguished scholars this year.
Four professors received the K.T. Li Honorary Scholar Award: Distinguished Professor Tsorng-Juu Liang and Distinguished Professor Chih-Lung Lin from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Distinguished Professor Yueh-Nan Chen from the Department of Physics, and Distinguished Professor Ju-Ming Wang from the Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences.
The K.T. Li Research Award was presented to Associate Professor Watchareeya Kaveevivitchai from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Associate Professor Ting-Yuan Tu from the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
The K.T. Li Gold Quality Award was bestowed upon Professor Chao-Chieh Lan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Research Fellow Chun-Yen Chen from the University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology.
NCKU President Prof. Meng-Ru Shen expressed heartfelt gratitude to Delta Electronics founder and NCKU alumnus, Mr. Bruce C.H. Cheng, for his deep affection and support for his alma mater.
NCKU President Prof. Meng-Ru Shen expressed heartfelt gratitude to Delta Electronics founder and NCKU alumnus, Mr. Bruce C.H. Cheng, for his deep affection and support for his alma mater. President Shen remarked, "Over 30 years ago, Mr. Cheng had the generous idea of donating stock to give back to the university. Through the dividends generated from these stocks, we have been able to continuously provide awards for outstanding scholars and students. We are truly grateful for his visionary foresight."
Delta Electronics' Senior Vice President, Mr. Shou-Feng Chin, attended the ceremony in representation of Mr. Bruce C. H. Cheng to extend his sincere congratulations to all the awardees.
The K.T. Li Technology and Literature Lectureships Awards, now in its 23rd year, was established through a donation by Mr. Bruce C.H. Cheng, the founder of Delta Electronics and an outstanding alumnus of NCKU.Delta Electronics' Senior Vice President, Mr. Shou-Feng Chin, attended the ceremony in representation of Mr. Bruce C.H. Cheng to extend his sincere congratulations to all the awardees. Mr. Chin expressed, "All the awardees have truly earned their recognition through their deep dedication to their respective research fields. We hope that these scholars will continue to push the boundaries in their domains and make even greater contributions to themselves, their schools, society, the nation, and the world."
This year's four recipients of the K.T. Li Honorary Scholar Award are: NCKU Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering, Tsorng-Juu Liang; Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering, Chih-Lung Lin; Distinguished Professor of Physics, Yueh-Nan Chen; and Distinguished Professor of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, Ju-Ming Wang.
K.T. Li Honorary Scholar Award awardee, Distinguished Professor Tsorng-Juu Liang from the Dept. of Electrical Engineering (center).
Distinguished Professor Tsorng-Juu Liang from the Department of Electrical Engineering has published over 80 SCI journal articles, with more than 13,000 citations on Google Scholar. He holds a total of 49 domestic and international patents and has mentored 25 PhD graduates and over 200 master’s graduates. Professor Liang received the Academic Research Award by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) in 2023, was named an IEEE Fellow in 2016, and received the Outstanding Engineering Professors Award from the Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE) in 2015. Currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, he is dedicated to enhancing Taiwan's international influence and visibility in the field of power electronics.
K.T. Li Honorary Scholar Award awardee, Distinguished Professor Chih-Lung Lin from the Dept. of Electrical Engineering (center).
Distinguished Professor Chih-Lung Lin from the Department of Electrical Engineering has achieved remarkable accomplishments in research, patents, and talent cultivation. Over his academic career, he has published 91 international journal articles and holds an impressive record of 235 patents. In the past five years, he has secured nearly NT$200 million in funding as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator and was honored with the National Science and Technology Council’s Academic Research Award in 2021.
Professor Lin has also built a research team that actively mentors students, leading to over 60 awards in paper and project competitions. He has facilitated overseas exchanges for nearly 20 doctoral students to prestigious universities in the United States and Japan, demonstrating his dedication to talent development. Professor Lin anticipates continuing his research in integrating AIoT with optoelectronics and healthcare technologies, particularly in eldercare and wound care, contributing to societal well-being.
K.T. Li Honorary Scholar Award awardee, Distinguished Professor Yueh-Nan Chen from the Dept. of Physics (center).
Distinguished Professor Yueh-Nan Chen from the Department of Physics has dedicated over 20 years to foundational research in quantum computing theory. His groundbreaking work has been published in leading international journals and earned numerous accolades, including the National Science and Technology Council's Academic Research Award in 2020. In that same year, he established the Center for Quantum Frontiers of Research and Technology (QFort), focusing on cutting-edge fundamental science research and the practical application of innovative technologies. QFort also fosters international collaboration and integrates networks across academia, industry, and government.
Professor Chen is committed to cultivating future talent by launching Taiwan's first quantum micro-course for high school students. Through online courses, he introduces the novel logic of next-generation computing, inspiring young minds and paving the way for Taiwan's future leaders in advanced technology.
K.T. Li Honorary Scholar Award awardee, Distinguished Professor Ju-Ming Wang from the Dept. of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences (center).
Distinguished Professor Ju-Ming Wang from the Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences has dedicated his career to foundational research, later expanding into translational studies, entrepreneurship education, and drug development. He received the National Science and Technology Council's Academic Research Award in 2020 and multiple national biotech industry accolades. His anti-inflammatory drug research successfully transferred to industry and progressed to preclinical trials. In 2022, he secured a translational innovation grant to advance antibody treatments for various fibrotic diseases.
This year’s recipients of the K.T. Li Research Award are Associate Professor Watchareeya Kaveevivitchai from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Associate Professor Ting-Yuan Tu from the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
K.T. Li Research Award awardee, Associate Professor Watchareeya Kaveevivitchai from the Dept. of Chemical Engineering (center).
Associate Professor Watchareeya Kaveevivitchai, originally from Thailand and the only international scholar among this year’s awardees, leads a laboratory focused on developing next-generation energy storage materials. Her team collaborates across disciplines and internationally to design high-performance electrode materials. These innovative organic or metal-organic electrodes are lightweight, free from toxic metals, environmentally friendly in production, and recyclable—making them ideal for applications in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and large-scale energy storage systems. Her groundbreaking research aims to advance sustainable energy storage technologies to support green energy development.
K.T. Li Research Award awardee, Associate Professor Ting-Yuan Tu from the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering (center).
Associate Professor Ting-Yuan Tu from the Department of Biomedical Engineering has been dedicated to the development of technologies in in-vitro tissue microenvironments, microfluidics, and vascular-on-a-chip systems. His work focuses on studying cancer metastasis behavior and its applications in drug screening. Through extensive collaborations with domestic and international academic institutions, his team has achieved several significant breakthroughs.
Professor Tu's research group pioneered the concept of tumor interface microenvironments and proposed that cancer cells may mediate interface tropism (diepafitaxis), enhancing invasive capabilities during metastasis. This innovative discovery provides a fresh perspective on the mechanisms of cancer metastasis.
The K.T. Li Gold Quality Award, which honors NCKU faculty for significant achievements in patents, inventions, or technology transfer, was awarded this year to Professor Chao-Chieh Lan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Research Fellow Chun-Yen Chen from the University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology.
K.T. Li Gold Quality Award awardee, Professor Chao-Chieh Lan from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, with Prof. Yen-Chen Liu (center) attending in place of Prof. Lan.
Professor Chao-Chieh Lan has dedicated his career to the fields of mechatronics, robotics, and mechanical design, achieving remarkable research outcomes. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Paper Publication Award at IEEE and other international forums and conferences. He has also guided his students to win multiple prestigious awards, such as the HIWIN Thesis Award, the Taiwan Innovative Mechanism Design Competition, and the Allring Innovative Design Competition. Additionally, Professor Lan was one of only five recipients of last year’s Delta Young Technology Scholar Award, a highly distinguished honor in Taiwan.
K.T. Li Gold Quality Award awardee, Research Fellow Chun-Yen Chen from the University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology (center).
Research Fellow Chun-Yen Chen from the University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology has been a pioneer in microalgae research in Taiwan. Leading his team, he has established the most comprehensive local microalgae gene database in Taiwan's academic community and created Asia's largest outdoor microalgae cultivation demonstration facility. By employing innovative algae-bacteria hybrid biotechnology, his research focuses on wastewater treatment and carbon sequestration, advancing net-zero carbon emission operations.
Chen’s work has received support from the National Science and Technology Council’s Taiwan Germination Program and has fostered strong collaborations with industry leaders. His efforts have attracted nearly NT$100 million in investment from major petrochemical companies, signaling the high potential of his emerging carbon-reduction technologies. Amid global pressure to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Chen is driving advancements in carbon capture and reutilization through microalgae, developing sustainable fuels and low-carbon materials for high-value applications.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2024-11-25