The 2025 International Water Association (IWA) MTSG Membrane Technology PhD Thesis Award was recently presented at the 11th IWA Membrane Technology Conference (IWA-MTC 2025). Wang Lisheng, a 2023 PhD graduate from the School of Environment at Tsinghua University, was one of only two recipients worldwide to receive this prestigious honor. Wang was supervised by Professor Huang Xia.

Wang Lisheng attending the award ceremony in Daegu.

Wang Lisheng completed his entire academic journey at Tsinghua University’s School of Environment, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2018 and his PhD in 2023. His research focuses on membrane aeration and wastewater nitrogen removal technologies.

Throughout his doctoral studies, he published four SCI-indexed papers as first author in leading journals, including Water Research. He currently serves as an R&D engineer at CISDI Thermal & Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd., where he works on advanced industrial wastewater treatment technologies.

The PhD Thesis Award was established by the IWA Membrane Technology Specialist Group (MTSG) to recognize exceptional doctoral graduates (within two years of graduation) for their contributions to membrane science and technology. The award is designed to encourage and support the development of outstanding young talent in the global water sector. The selection process involves a rigorous review by the IWA MTSG judging panel and final approval by the Management Committee. Only two winners are selected globally each year. This is the second consecutive year a Tsinghua graduate has won; Lin Weichen (PhD, Class of 2022) received the same award in 2024.

Editor: Zhang Nannan