WISE adviser Yang Shao-Horn receives honorary doctorate from Uppsala University

Professor Yang Shao-Horn, whose research helps explain how materials work in batteries and other energy technologies, has been named an honorary doctor by Uppsala University. She is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Chemistrys at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and also a member of the WISE’s International Science Advisory Committee.

Shao-Horn is one of seven people selected for honorary doctorates by the Faculty of Science and Technology, and one of 27 recipients across the university. The title recognises outstanding academic achievements or other significant contributions to research at Uppsala University.

–I am deeply honored to receive an honorary doctorate from Uppsala University, an institution with a remarkable history of scientific discovery and academic excellence. This recognition is particularly meaningful to me because it reflects the importance of fundamental scientific understanding in addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges, including sustainable energy, says Professor Shao-Horn.

Understanding energy materials, atom by atom

What makes one material better than another at storing energy or driving a chemical reaction? Shao-Horn’s research explores this question at the level of atoms and electrons. Her work has helped explain how the arrangement of atoms and the behaviour of electrons influence chemical reactions and the movement of electrical charge and ions at material surfaces and interfaces. These insights provide guiding principles for designing more efficient and sustainable materials for batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors.

After more than two decades as a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, Shao-Horn will join Nanyang Technological University in Singapore as a professor in January 2027. WISE is proud to count her among the members of its International Science Advosory Committee (ISAC). Appointed by the WISE Board, ISAC brings together leading international researchers who provide strategic advice and guidance on WISE’s scientific development and direction.

–I am especially grateful to the many talented students, postdoctoral researchers, and collaborators whose curiosity, creativity, and dedication have made our scientific journey possible. I look forward to learning more about Uppsala University’s rich academic traditions, engaging with the Swedish scientific community, and exchanging ideas and perspectives that can inspire new discoveries and collaborations, adds Prof. Shao-Horn.

A tradition dating back to 1839

Uppsala University’s tradition of honorary degrees began in 1839, when the poet P. D. A. Atterbom, professor of aesthetics and modern literature, arranged for an honorary master’s degree to be awarded while serving as the ceremony’s presiding academic.

The new honorary doctors will receive their tokens of honour at the Winter Conferment Ceremony on 26 February 2027.

Follow the news at Uppsala University: https://www.uu.se/en/staff/news/2026/2026-10-20-new-honorary-doctors-2027-at-uppsala-university