About

Qin Wang is a faculty member in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Pennsylvania State University. He is a Research Support Technologist in the Yang Lab, located in the Life Sciences Building at University Park, PA. His research focuses on plant disease management, plant-microbe interactions, microbial diversity and ecology, and mushroom science and technology. Wang has contributed to the understanding of plant immune responses, disease resistance mechanisms, and the role of calcium oxalate crystals as a defense against chewing insects. His work involves investigating molecular pathways such as ethylene biosynthesis and signaling in rice, as well as the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by calcium-dependent protein kinases. Wang has authored multiple refereed papers in the field of plant pathology and microbiology, emphasizing his active engagement in advancing knowledge in plant health and microbial interactions.

Research topics

• Materials science
• Composite material
• Nanotechnology
• Optoelectronics
• Chemistry
• Electrical engineering
• Physical chemistry
• Thermodynamics
• Physics
• Engineering
• Electronic engineering
• Chemical engineering
• Organic chemistry
• Metallurgy
• Engineering physics
• Chromatography
• Chemical physics

Selected publications

• Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole‐Induced Systemic Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome: A Case Report

  Clinical Case Reports · 2026-04-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole can induce life-threatening toxic epidermal necrolysis. Early recognition, immediate drug cessation, and multidisciplinary supportive care are critical. Even with aggressive therapy, mortality remains high, and SCORTEN score aids in prognostication.

  PublisherDOI

• Insights into the mechanism of reversible blood‐brain barrier opening via second near‐infrared region excited gold nanorods photothermal effect: Regulation of the tight junction protein occludin

  Smart Molecules · 2025-08-26

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract This study constructed an in vitro blood‐brain barrier (BBB) transwell model to investigate the regulatory effects and mechanisms of the photothermal effects of gold nanorods (AuNRs) excited by the second near‐infrared region (NIR‐II) on BBB permeability. The experimental results showed that the photothermal effects of NIR‐II + AuNRs significantly decreased trans ‐epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased the permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐dextran, indicating that it can effectively open the BBB. This effect was reversible, and the TEER and FITC permeability returned to baseline levels within 24 h after treatment. Mechanistic studies revealed that BBB opening did not rely on apoptosis, cytoskeletal disruption, mitochondrial dysfunction, or inflammation. The opening of the BBB was closely associated with a temporary decrease in the expression and conformational change of the tight junction protein occludin due to the photothermal effect. Molecular simulations and docking analysis revealed that the heat shock protein HSP70 could bind to the conformationally altered occludin, supporting the regulatory role of photothermal effects on tight junction proteins. In summary, NIR‐II + AuNRs achieved safe and reversible opening of the BBB by regulating the conformation and expression of tight junction proteins, providing a deeper insight for further research on BBB and the treatment of neurological diseases.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• <i>Operando</i> XAFS Reveals Dynamic Structural Evolution of Pt Single‐Atom Catalysts for Efficient Chlorine Electrosynthesis

  Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 2025-08-25 · 7 citations

  article1st author

  Abstract Metal single‐atom catalysts (SACs) with near‐100% metal utilization and flexible coordination environments are promising candidates for electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction (CER) to produce valuable Cl 2 —a key raw material for plastics manufacturing, water treatment, and pharmaceuticals. However, it remains challenging to assess specific coordination environments for structure–activity relationships and monitor their dynamic structural evolution under catalytic reaction conditions. Herein, operando X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) revealed distinct dynamic structural evolution on the low‐coordinated Pt site, compared to the conventional PtN 4 site. Specifically, the low‐coordinated Pt site transformed into an asymmetry PtN 2 Cl 2 structure upon exposure to a Cl − ‐containing solution, transiently evolved to PtN 2 Cl 4 intermediate at low overpotentials, and reverted to PtN 2 Cl 2 after CER. By overcoming the limitation of *Cl intermediate coverage on PtN 4 SAC, the low‐coordinated Pt SAC displayed superior CER performance to commercial RuO 2 and PtN 4 benchmarks. This work provides new insights into the rational design of coordination geometry in SACs for electrocatalysis.

  PublisherDOI

• Using global competence as a pedagogical approach to teach Sustainable Development Goals in higher education

  International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education · 2025-09-17 · 1 citations

  article

  Purpose This paper proposes and evaluates a pedagogical initiative to integrate global competence into teaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education institutions (HEIs). This approach harnesses the concept of global competence with an integrated design course model as the pedagogical framework. This paper aims to identify effective course design strategies to enhance the quality of teaching and learning about SDGs. Design/methodology/approach This study used an exploratory action research design, with three lecturers engaged as both researchers and practitioners responsible for implementing and evaluating the intervention at a Chinese university. Surveys to assess the effectiveness of the intervention were sent to a class of 53 students, of whom 15 volunteered for in-depth follow-up interviews. Data were analysed and presented using an explanatory sequential design. Findings Integrating global competence as a pedagogical approach showed significant potential, with students reporting high satisfaction and gaining specific knowledge, skills and action-oriented beliefs related to the SDGs. They also demonstrated growth in global competence, including improved understanding of local and global issues, more inclusive attitudes and enhanced communication and collaboration skills. Originality/value This paper transforms the abstract concept of global competence into a tangible instructional process for teaching SDG programmes in HEIs. It offers educators both theoretical and practical insights into teaching SDG courses. It also highlights challenges and opportunities for incorporating SDG content into curricula to support teachers and students, particularly in regions where education for sustainable development has not yet been fully introduced.

  PublisherDOI

• Topological Structure‐Induced Piezoelectricity from the <i>α</i> ‐Phase Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)

  Advanced Materials · 2025-11-19 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Topologically polar structures offer a rich landscape for uncovering emergent phenomena inaccessible in traditional ferroelectric materials. In contrast to the numerous examples found in ferroelectric oxides, topological structures identified in ferroelectric polymers are extremely rare. Here, the creation of a meron-like topological polar structure is demonstrated in the non-polar α-phase poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). The formation of the twisted lamellae within ring-banded polymer spherulites and the resulting topological structure are revealed using combined experimental and computational methods. Non-zero polarization is demonstrated using Kelvin probe force microscopy, second harmonic generation measurement, and dielectric spectroscopy, and verify the facilitation of polarization orientation by strain in the topological α-phase PVDF. Accordingly, piezoelectricity in the topological α-phase PVDF is demonstrated through both direct and converse measurements and reveals a strong correlation between polarization, the piezoelectric coefficient, and the topological structure. This result offers a new perspective on creating polar topological structures and inducing formerly symmetry-forbidden properties like piezoelectricity in the non-polar phase of ferroelectric polymers.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Erasure of zircon rims by sediment transport after two orogenic cycles

  Geology · 2025-09-17

  article

  Abstract The physio-chemical resilience of zircons has been key in their increasing application to deciphering geological processes through Earth history. However, zircons are not immune to mechanical abrasion and chemical alteration. This study quantifies the loss of zircon rims from the Brahmaputra source-to-sink (S2S) system, which drains the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen and transports sediment to the deep Bay of Bengal over a total vertical relief of some 7000 m. During sediment transport from this S2S system, median zircon rim thickness decreases by ~50%, suggesting that information contained in the rim would be lost after reworking of grains through two orogenic and associated sedimentary cycles. To validate this discovery at a global scale, we apply Monte Carlo weighted bootstrap resampling of a global detrital zircon core and rim age data set. After the impacts from changing tectonic regime (increasing metamorphic rim since the late Neoproterozoic and rim formation during continental collision events) were decoded, proportions of rim versus core increase over time and clearly show that old rims have been erased after several rounds of sediment recycling in response to multiple orogenic cycles. Our work suggests that crustal information archived in zircons can be lost during surficial sediment transport in addition to deep crustal-recycling processes such as lithospheric delamination, subduction erosion, and sediment subduction.

  PublisherDOI

• Large variations in zircon hafnium isotopes due to preferential dissolution of high-U zircon: A case study of the Lincang Batholith in SW China

  Lithos · 2025-10-03

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Study on the Formation of Calcium Carbonate by Carbon Sequestration of Phosphogypsum

  2025-09-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Currently, the utilization and treatment of solid waste resources and the recycling of greenhouse gas CO 2 need to be urgently addressed. Calcium carbonate powder was prepared by extracting Ca 2+ from phosphogypsum, a by-product of wet-process phosphoric acid, with ammonium acetate solution and fixing CO 2 with leaching solution. The effects of ammonium acetate concentration, liquid-solid mass ratio, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the leaching rate of Ca 2+ , and the effects of ammonia addition, CO 2 concentration, and carbonization time on the conversion rate of Ca 2+ were systematically studied. SEM, XRD, and particle size analysis were used to analyze the morphological characteristics and formation mechanism of carbonized products under different ammonia additions and carbonization times. The results show that under the optimal conditions, the leaching rate of Ca 2+ can reach 97.9%, the conversion rate of calcium carbonate can reach 91.78%, and the D50 of calcium carbonate powder is 14.7 μm.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Engineering defect-rich aluminum-doped cobalt phosphide nanosheet as a high-performance electrocatalyst for acidic hydrogen evolution

  Journal of Alloys and Compounds · 2025-10-01 · 2 citations

  articleCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Synthesis and induction heating-induced self-healing of epoxy vitrimer nanocomposites

  Frontiers in Materials · 2025-12-03 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Epoxy vitrimers have attracted significant research attention due to their reprocessability, malleability, and potential self-healing capability. In this study, we successfully synthesized two vitrimers based on a bulky diepoxide monomer, 9,9-bis(4-glycidyloxyphenyl)fluorene (DGBPEF) and zinc catalysts. When DGBPEF reacted with flexible Pripol 1040, a soft vitrimer with a glass transition temperature (T g ) of 45 °C and a topology freezing transition temperature (T v ) of 207 °C was obtained. When DGBPEF reacted with glutaric anhydride, a hard vitrimer with a T g of 166 °C and a T v of 235 °C was obtained. While both samples exhibited good reprocessability upon hot-pressing around T v , their surface scratches could not self-heal autonomously without applying pressure. Surface-functionalized superparamagnetic γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles (∼20 nm) were dispersed into the soft vitrimer matrix to prepare nanocomposites. At a nanoparticle loading of 5 wt%, the application of an oscillating magnetic field induced rapid induction heating, raising the nanocomposite temperature to 240 °C–250 °C (well above the T v ) within 5–10 min, which enabled effective autonomous self-healing of surface scratches. In contrast, no self-healing was observed when the nanocomposite was directly heated in a vacuum oven at 240 °C. This difference is attributed to the possible migration of γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles toward the crack site under an oscillating magnetic field, which enhances localized heating and triggers the autonomous self-healing response.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Ferroelectric Gradient Microfoams as High-Performance Self-Powered Flexible Pressure Sensors

  NSF · $360k · 2020–2023

• Novel Single-Ion Conductors for Lithium-Ion Batteries

  NSF · $310k · 2012–2017

• SusChEM: Nonflammable, Highly Conductive Ionic Liquid based Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries

  NSF · $300k · 2017–2021

• CAREER: Development of Novel Electroactive Polymer Assemblies

  NSF · $450k · 2006–2012

• Rational Design and Manufacturing of Ceramic-Polymer Composites for Solid State Cooling using the Electrocaloric Effect

  NSF · $329k · 2014–2018

Frequent coauthors

• Enrique Herrera‐Viedma

  Universidad de Granada

  1350 shared

• Maria Pia Fanti

  Polytechnic University of Bari

  840 shared

• Ieee Officers

  Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

  840 shared

• Witold Pedrycz

  University of Alberta

  840 shared

• Sos С. Agaian

  College of Staten Island

  840 shared

• K Seow

  Royal Adelaide Hospital

  840 shared

• Karen Hawkins

  Xi'an Jiaotong University

  840 shared

• Saeid Nahavandi

  Engineering Systems (United States)

  840 shared

Labs

• Yang LabPI

Education

• PhD, Chemistry

  The University of Chicago

  2000