
==== Front
Commun Chem
Commun Chem
Communications Chemistry
2399-3669
Nature Publishing Group UK London

39300199
1292
10.1038/s42004-024-01292-2
Q&A
Women in chemistry: Q&A with Professor Shixuan Du
19 9 2024
19 9 2024
2024
7 213© Springer Nature Limited 2024
2024
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
Shixuan Du is a Professor at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in China. Shixuan’s research focuses on the interface properties and assembly mechanism of molecules on substrates, and the design of novel low-dimensional materials by using first-principle computational methods based on density functional theory as the main research tools.

Subject terms

Molecular self-assembly
issue-copyright-statement© Springer Nature Limited 2024
==== Body
pmc Prof. Shixuan Du

Shixuan Du works to advance our understanding of material behavior at the atomic level, facilitating the development of innovative materials with target properties for a wide range of applications from catalysis to energy storage. She collaborates with experimentalists to uncover the underlying mechanisms in chemistry and physics. She is the winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. She got the Award of the Chinese Young Women in Science Fellowship for her achievements in theoretical and computational investigations of the structures and electronic properties of low-dimensional materials including functional molecules. As a major contributor, she won the 2013 Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Prize of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2019, she was awarded the “Xie Xide Prize” in Physics. In 2023, Shixuan was awarded the Zhu Li Yuehua Outstanding Teacher Award for her significant contributions to postgraduate teaching.

Why did you choose to be a scientist?

I became a scientist because I love the freedom to explore and the passion I find in research. Growing up with the freedom to experience joy nurtured my curiosity and sense of adventure. Science offers me not just a career, but also spiritual and intellectual freedom. My life’s journey is defined by the pursuit of science, driven by a passion for exploration and discovery.

What scientific development are you currently most excited about?

I am excited about applying machine learning to uncover the mechanisms of chemical processes, to look for novel low-dimensional materials with diverse properties. These algorithms excel at finding patterns in large datasets, revealing complex relationships that traditional methods might miss. Machine learning enhances efficiency, accuracy, and innovation across various fields.

What direction do you think your research field should go in?

My research field will go in low-dimensional materials, such as 2D materials and nanostructures. Relative research is increasingly leveraging machine learning to uncover novel properties and optimize their applications. My research will focus on employing machine learning to design and discover new low-dimensional materials with tailored properties for specific applications, such as energy storage, catalysis, and quantum computing.

What aspects of your research do you find most exciting or most rewarding?

One of the most thrilling aspects is unquestionably the discovery of new materials that could be synthesized by experimentalist and novel properties observed in experiments.

Could you describe a memorable moment in your career where being a woman made a significant difference, possibly even steered your path in a certain direction?

A memorable moment in my career where being a woman made a significant difference was during my early days in academia. When I was attending a conference, I noticed that I was the only woman scientist who gave a presentation. This experience steered my path towards not only excelling in my research but also becoming an advocate for gender equality in science. It motivated me to mentor young women scientists, create support networks, and push for greater representation of women in STEM fields. It was a turning point that deepened my commitment to my work and to fostering an inclusive environment in science, where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed, regardless of gender.

Do you have any advice you would like to share with women starting out in chemical research?

Here are some pieces of advice: believe in your abilities, be persistent, advocate for yourself, stay curious and open-minded, and balance work and life. Ones journey in chemical research is unique, and while there will be challenges, there are also many opportunities for growth, discovery, and making a meaningful impact.

This interview was conducted by the editors of Communications Chemistry.
