Qingxu “Bill” Jin, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is among 18 early career innovators selected nationwide for the Inspiring Generations of New Innovators to Impact Technologies in Energy program.

According to ARPA-E, IGNIITE backs early-career scientists and engineers whose work can turn disruptive, unconventional, high-risk, high-reward ideas into transformative technologies.

Jin’s project, Transformative Ultra-Flexible Concrete for Extreme Environments, involves developing Ultra-Flexible Concrete for critical energy infrastructure exposed to extreme thermal conditions, from cryogenic to elevated temperatures. This innovation helps protect energy infrastructure by using a tough material that survives extreme temperatures and “heals” small cracks on its own, preventing damage from spreading and improving reliability.