Dr. Qin is an Associate Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, with an adjunct appointment with the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, at Georgia Institute of Technology. She was born and raised in Shanghai, China. Her academic records include a BS in Chemistry from Fudan University, a PhD in Physical Chemistry with Professor Hai-Lung Dai from the University of Pennsylvania, a postdoctoral stint in Materials with Professor George M. Whitesides atHarvard University, and an MBA from the University of Washington. In spare time, Dr. Qin enjoys freelance writing in Chinese.
Dr. Qin began her independent career as a founding member of the Center for Nanotechnology at the University of Washington in Seattle where she applied her scientific expertise to develop a number of multidisciplinary research initiatives with faculty engaged in research across disciplines (1997-2007). Dr. Qin was recruited by Washington University in St. Louis and she played a big role as the Associate Dean for Research in the School of Engineering and Applied Science (2007-2011). Dr. Qin was the site director of the NSF-supported National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NSF-NNIN) at Washington University - Nano Research Facility - with a strong commitment to provide unique capabilities at intersections of nanotechnology and public health and environment (2009-2011).
Dr. Qin started her new appointment as an Associate Professor of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech in January 2012. She received her adjunct appointment with the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry in February 2012. Her research interests center on the frontiers that bridge traditional fields of chemistry and materials science, with a focus on peculiar properties and applications driven by materials and systems at the nanoscale. Her expertise includes nanomaterials, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), soft lithography, self-assembly, colloidal physics and chemistry, and responsible development of nanotechnology.