Wei received his Ph.D. in 2016 from Tsinghua University under the supervision of Prof. Huaping Xu. His thesis focused on developing oxidation and coordination responsive selenium- and tellurium-containing polymer assemblies. Afterward, he moved to UCLA where he worked as a postdoctoral scholar with Prof. Ellen Sletten, investigating fluorescent cyanine fluorophores that form J-aggregates in the fluorous phase. In 2018, he moved to Northwestern University as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Nathan Gianneschi’s group, working on selenium-containing melanin. This selenomelanin work is inspired by natural sulfur-containing polymeric pheomelanin and can provide significant radiation protection to biological systems.
Prof. Wei Cao joined the Department of Chemistry at Beijing Normal University in 2022.
Professional experiences
| 1/2018-9/2021 |
Northwestern University, USA. Postdoctoral scholar in Department of Chemistry. Advisor: Prof. Nathan C. Gianneschi |
| 10/2016-12/2017 | UCLA, USA. Postdoctoral scholar in Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Advisor: Prof. Ellen M. Sletten |
Education
| 9/2011-7/2016 | Tsinghua University, China, Ph.D. in the Department of Chemistry. Advisor: Prof. Huaping Xu |
| 4/2016-5/2016 | Stanford University, USA, Visiting student in the Department of Chemistry. Advisor: Prof. Yan Xia |
| 1/2015-4/2015 | Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, Visiting student. Advisor: Prof. Jan H. Van Esch |
| 9/2007-7/2011 | Jilin University, China, B. S. in the College of Chemistry.
Advisor: Prof. Yue Wang, Prof. Yuguang Ma |
Honors and awards
| 2021 | ACS PMSE future faculty scholar, American Chemical Society |
| 2016 | Outstanding Graduates of Beijing (top 5%) |
| 2016 | Outstanding Graduates of Tsinghua University (top 5%) |
| 2015 | Highest Award for Graduate Students of Tsinghua University (top 10 among 26,000 graduate students of Tsinghua University are awarded each year) |
| 2015 | Qualified in a global competition among young scientists worldwide to participate in 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, Germany. |
| 2015 | Gaoyingshi Scholarship, Tsinghua University |
| 2015 | Academic Rookie, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University |
| 2014 | Tsinghua Scholarship for Graduate Overseas Studies |
| 2014 | Outstanding Poster Presentation for the International Symposium on Polymer Chemistry (PC2014) |
| 2014 | Shimadzu Scholarship, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University |
| 2014 | National Scholarship for Graduates, China |
| 2013 | National Scholarship for Graduates, China |
| 2012 | National Scholarship for Graduates, China |
| 2010 | National College Students Chemistry Experiment Competition, 2nd prize |
| 2010 | National Endeavor Fellowship, Jilin University |
| 2009 | National Endeavor Fellowship, Jilin University |
| 2008 | Comprehensive First-Class Scholarship, Jilin University |
| 2008 | University Outstanding Students, Jilin University |
Professional Service
| 2021 | Research mentor for an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) students, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Northwestern University, USA |
| 2020 | Guest associate editor for a “Nanotechnology in Traditional Medicines and Natural Products” themed issue of Frontiers in Chemistry |
| 2019 | Research mentor for an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate(REU) students, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, USA |
| 2013-2014 | Research mentor for High School YingCai Plan students, China |
CAO RESEARCH GROUP 