UMN PhD Candidate Honored with ASME Best Student Paper Award for Work on PFAS Detection

University of Minnesota PhD Candidate in Mechanical Engineering Yingming Xu, together with co-author Dr. Peng Zhou and Advisor Professor Tianhong Cui, has received the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE) Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Division Best Student Paper Award (one of the three awardees) in Memphis on Nov. 18, 2025.  

Their paper, “Molecularly Imprinted Laser-Induced Graphene Sensor for Sensitive Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Detection,” was selected from a competitive international pool for its strong motivation, clear communication, and relevance to an urgent environmental challenge. As PFAS chemicals continue to appear in water systems worldwide and draw increasing health and regulatory concerns, the need for reliable monitoring tools has never been greater. 

The team’s work stood out for its thoughtful problem framing and its potential to meaningfully advance PFAS detection. This recognition highlights the growing role of engineering innovation in protecting water quality and public health.