Introduction to the Lab/Research

Rui Shang received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2009 and obtained his Ph.D. from the same university in 2014. From 2012 to 2014, he conducted joint doctoral research at the University of Tokyo in Japan. Upon completing his Ph.D., he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and continued his research at the University of Tokyo. In November 2016, he was appointed as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Science, the University of Tokyo—an appointment that bypassed the conventional Assistant Professor stage in the Japanese academic system—and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. In 2024, he was further promoted to Project Professor at the same institution. Prof. Shang will join Westlake University as a full-time faculty member in October 2025, where he will establish the Laboratory of Sustainable Catalysis and Functional Molecules. Prof. Shang’s research focuses on novel catalytic reactions, green organic synthesis, and functional conjugated molecules. He has made a series of internationally recognized and original contributions in the fields of base metal catalysis, visible-light photocatalysis, and organic functional materials. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed SCI papers, which have been cited more than 9,500 times by 2025. He has received numerous awards, including the China Youth Science and Technology Innovation Award (2011), the Special Presidential Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2013), the Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2015), and the Springer Thesis Award (2016). In 2022, he was selected as a member of the Early Career Advisory Board of Science of Synthesis (SoS), and as a JSP Fellow of the Swiss Chemical Society’s prestigious Bürgenstock Conference. He is also the recipient of the Banyu Chemist Award 2022 from Banyu Merck-Japan, the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Young Chemists (2022), and the Thieme Chemistry Journals Award 2023. Currently, Prof. Shang serves as an inaugural Early Career Advisory Board member of Organic Chemistry Frontiers, a Young Editorial Board member of Science China Chemistry, and an Associate Editor of Luminescence (Wiley). In 2025, he was honored with the ACS Catalysis Lectureship Award.

Research

Rui Shang's research interests span a broad range of catalytic reactions. In recent years, he has conducted a series of original and internationally influential studies in the fields of base metal catalysis and visible-light photocatalysis. He has successfully developed various conjugated functional materials with unique structures. Among his representative achievements is the pioneering of new reactivity in iron-catalyzed organometallic transformations and the design of iron-catalyzed reactions applicable to the synthesis of functional electronic materials (Nat. Catal. 2019, 400; Nat. Catal. 2021, 631; Nat. Synth. 2024, 1349; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 21692). Through these innovative reactions, he has synthesized novel polymers and small-molecule organic semiconductors, which have been successfully applied in optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors, photovoltaics, and light-emitting systems (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 6823; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, e2022039490). In the field of visible-light photocatalysis, he was the first to propose and establish a new concept of photo-redox catalysis based on photoexcited electron donor–acceptor complexes (Science 2019, 1429; Sci. China Chem. 2021, 439). He also made early contributions to visible-light-induced transition metal catalysis (ACS Catal. 2020, 9170), introducing the concept of excited-state palladium catalysis (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 18307; Nat. Commun. 2018, 5215). More recently, he has designed and developed a series of inexpensive and readily available anionic photocatalysts (Chem, 2025, 102359; Nat. Commun. 2022, 354; ACS Catal. 2022, 4103), and applied them in the photocatalytic synthesis of functional electronic materials (ACS Catal. 2023, 11753). Prof. Shang has also established close industry-academia collaborations with companies such as Mitsubishi Chemical and High Chem in Japan, as well as with several domestic companies. These collaborations have led to the development of a variety of conjugated functional materials with distinctive structures (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 5018; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 2059; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 18990; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 21146; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 12712; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202416583), and jointly promoted the development and application of novel organic electronic materials (Japanese Patents No. 7083441 and No. 7261372).

The research group aims to explore new catalytic reactivities, design functional molecules, and develop high-performance electronic materials with commercialization potential. The current main research directions include:

1. Base Metal-Catalyzed Synthesis for Compounds of Interest in Organic Electronic Materials – Developing efficient and sustainable synthetic methods using earth-abundant metal catalysts such as iron, chromium, and copper.

2. Visible-Light Photocatalytic Synthesis for Organic Electronic Materials – Employing light energy to drive molecular transformations under mild and selective conditions.

3. Molecular Design and Development of Novel Organic Electronic Materials – Creating innovative organic functional molecules and exploring their potential applications in photovoltaics, light emission, sensors, and flexible/wearable electronic devices.

These three research directions are deeply interconnected within the Shang Lab, forming a synergistic framework that drives innovation across catalysis, molecular design, and material applications.

Job Description

Position: Postdoctoral Fellow (4)

Requirements:

1） Under the guidance of the project leader, explore and develop organic chemical reactions related to sustainable catalysis, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of organic electronic materials, striving to achieve high-level research outcomes.

2） Assist the project leader and team members in conducting experimental research and theoretical calculations related to organic synthesis.

3） Assist the project leader in laboratory construction and daily management tasks, including laboratory safety, instrument maintenance, and reagent management.

4） Able to work diligently, follow the advice of the laboratory leader, and comply with management.

Other requirements:

Hold or expect to hold a Ph.D. degree by the start date; aged under 35.

Compensation and Benefits

1. The research team offers a competitive and negotiable compensation package commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Applications for relevant projects and programs will be encouraged and supported.

2. The university assists with enrolling children in child care and school.

3. The university boasts comprehensive postdoctoral training, with programs including the Westlake University Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellows and Westlake Postdoctoral Fellowship for Women.

Funding

1. Postdocs receive a living allowance and research funding from the Hangzhou municipal government.

2. Recipients of funding from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation or the Zhejiang Province Selected Funding for Postdoctoral Research Projects are entitled to supplementary funding of the same amount from the Hangzhou municipal government.

3. Postdocs who work full-time in Hangzhou after completing their postdoctoral research qualify for an allowance of 400,000 RMB from the Hangzhou municipal government.

4. Eligible new university graduates holding a doctoral degree or equivalent who work full time in Hangzhou (including those who studied abroad and returned to China within 5 years of graduation as well as foreign talent) can apply to the Hangzhou municipal government for a living allowance of 100,000 RMB.

5. Postdocs recognized as high-level talent in Hangzhou enjoy corresponding preferential policies.

How to Apply

To apply, please send the following documents in English in PDF format to rshang@westlake.edu.cn, and indicate “Postdoc Application” in the email subject.

1) CV

2) 2 reference letters

3) Doctoral degree certificate