Qizhi He receives seed money to develop GenAI model to encode and generate microphase morphologies

In 2025, 3M and Honeywell partnered with UMN once again, providing seed funding for researchprojects. 3M selected five projects in total. One of which is “Designing Micro-Phase Separated Polymer Systems Using Machine Learning and Meso-Scale Simulation” by Qizhi He, assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering. Qizhi He is developing a GenAI model to encode and generate microphase morphologies. The goal was to validate the model by comparing its generated data against simulation results using a generic copolymer system. 

The University of Minnesota (UMN) has a long history of collaborating with Minnesota-based industries to drive innovation. Partnerships may include a reverse-pitch process and seed grant funding from the industry partner for projects that address a company’s innovation needs. This model allows UMN researchers to explore new ideas, fill gaps in company resources, and opens avenues for joint federal funding – ultimately helping translate ideas into real-world solutions. 

3M Senior Staff Scientist Shri Niwas said, “We are very interested in helping our state by partnering with our neighbors at the University of Minnesota. By providing seed funding to University of Minnesota researchers, we effectively use our shared knowledge and expertise to come up with a plan to achieve an innovative solution to a research problem. . . Research projects are selected based on current global challenges, University of Minnesota capabilities and expertise, and what 3M lacks in bandwidth to explore themselves,” said Niwas.