Spotlight: Peiqi Qiu

Peiqi Qiu is a PhD candidate in Professor Yan Jiao‘s research group at the University of Adelaide. Her research focuses on computational electrochemistry, using molecular modelling techniques to evaluate reaction mechanisms on catalyst surfaces.

What is your elevator pitch, or what do you tell people when they ask, what do you do?

I am a PhD student in the School of Chemical Engineering, supervised by Prof Yan Jiao. Currently, I am using molecular modelling to design new carbon-based catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction reaction. This can help to convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and fuels. It is part of a broader effort within our Centre to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change by turning waste into something of value.

What do you consider your key challenges (personal and or professional)?

One of my main professional challenges is working in an interdisciplinary research area, which requires me to develop a broad set of skills across different fields — including coding, mathematics, chemistry, and even some physics. It can be overwhelming at times to keep up with all these areas, but it also makes the work more dynamic and rewarding. Personally, I have a similar multi-disciplinary challenge: the endless things I want to dabble in, such as reading, fishing, and snorkelling, but always, it seems, with the constraint of time.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Honestly, most mornings, it is probably breakfast or the gentle panic of an approaching deadline. But what truly motivates me is curiosity – trying to understand things I don’t yet know. At work, I’m driven by the scientific questions that emerge during research. Lately, I’ve been intrigued by how the same combination of elements can lead to different CO₂ reduction pathways on dual atom catalysts, simply because atomic distances shift. It’s like discovering a hidden logic in the structure. In daily life, my curiosity takes a softer form. I often wonder why a cup of tea can taste completely different depending on the season, as if the leaves themselves have moods. It’s these small mysteries that keep life interesting.

Favourite thing(s) to do on the weekend?

I love exploring new cafes, going for hikes, and occasionally trying out new recipes. On quieter weekends, I enjoy reading or watching documentaries about science and nature. Lately, I have been hooked on a psychology book named Emotional First Aid by Dr Guy Winch, which explores common negative emotions and practical ways to handle them.

Cultural insights and what they mean to you?

One thing I’ve noticed is how people here take proper lunch breaks and enjoy chatting about everyday life. In China, especially in big cities, we often rush through meals and jump back into work. It’s more about being productive than enjoying life. This contrast has really made me rethink my own pace and reminded me that personal wellbeing and curiosity outside of work also shape who I am.