Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang is a world-renowned materials scientist whose pioneering work has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of energy storage technologies. He currently serves as the Kyocera Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been a faculty member in the department since completing his doctorate at MIT in 1985. Born in Taiwan on April 25, 1958, Chiang emigrated to the United States at age six and completed his entire academic training at MIT, earning his undergraduate degree in 1980 before proceeding directly to doctoral studies. His enduring commitment to MIT has established him as a cornerstone of the institution's materials science research for nearly four decades, during which he has become a leading figure in the global energy innovation community.
Chiang's groundbreaking research has revolutionized battery technology through multiple paradigm-shifting innovations that have transformed energy storage for transportation and grid applications. He is particularly renowned for developing high-power lithium iron phosphate batteries, semi-solid electrode approaches that dramatically reduce manufacturing costs, and long-duration grid storage solutions that enable wider renewable energy adoption. His work on the fundamental understanding of energy storage materials has been extensively documented in over 300 scientific publications, and his practical impact is evidenced by more than 100 issued U.S. patents, many of which have been commercialized through venture-backed startups. These innovations have fundamentally reshaped how society approaches energy storage, making clean energy technologies more accessible and economically viable across multiple sectors.
Beyond his research achievements, Chiang has played a catalytic role in translating laboratory discoveries into commercial realities through the founding of seven companies including American Superconductor, A123 Systems, 24M Technologies, Desktop Metal, Form Energy, and Sublime Systems. His contributions to the field have been recognized with prestigious awards including TIME 100 Climate, The Economist's Innovation Award, and the Electrochemical Society Battery Technology Award. As a member of the National Academy of Engineering and fellow of multiple scientific societies, Chiang continues to guide the future of energy storage through his MIT laboratory where he investigates next-generation batteries for electric aviation, long-duration grid storage, and electrochemical processes for industrial decarbonization. His ongoing work positions him at the vanguard of technological solutions to climate change and sustainable energy infrastructure worldwide.
