Fengqi You

Fengqi You is an energy systems engineer who applies artificial intelligence and optimization to sustainability research. He earned a B.Eng. in chemical engineering at Tsinghua University in 2005 and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in 2009, worked at Argonne and Northwestern, and joined Cornell in 2016. His work spans machine-learning control for smart power systems, generative AI for crystalline materials, and studies of AI servers’ environmental footprints. He became an AAAS Fellow in 2022 and led a Cornell NSF program launched in 2024 to train 105 doctoral students to apply AI to sustainability. As of October 2026, he is Cornell’s Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering, directs its AI for Sustainability Initiative, and co-directs its AI for Science Institute.

Now at: Cornell University
Works: 682
Citations: 28,616
h-index: 96

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 27 October 2026.

Timeline

2005–2009

Engineering degrees

He earns a B.Eng. in chemical engineering at Tsinghua University in 2005 and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in 2009.
2009–2016

Argonne and Northwestern

From 2009 to 2011, he works as an Argonne Scholar at Argonne National Laboratory. From 2011 to 2016, he serves as an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering and, by courtesy, industrial engineering and management sciences at Northwestern University.
July 2016

Cornell professorship

In July 2016, he joins Cornell’s chemical and biomolecular engineering faculty as the Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor.
2021

Machine learning for power systems

In 2021, he coauthors an article on machine-learning and data-driven control methods for smart power generation systems under uncertainty.
2022

AAAS fellowship

In 2022, the American Association for the Advancement of Science elects him a Fellow for contributions to computational models, optimization algorithms and systems analytics for chemical processes, energy systems and sustainability.
2024

AI for sustainability training

In 2024, he leads a five-year, $3 million NSF program to train 105 doctoral students to apply AI to sustainable materials, energy-system decarbonization, digital agriculture and the energy-food-climate nexus.
2025

AI for materials and server impacts

In May 2025, he coauthors a framework that builds crystal symmetry and periodicity into a generative AI model for crystalline-material design. In November 2025, he leads a state-by-state study of AI servers’ energy, water and carbon impacts and outlines siting, grid and operations measures to reduce them.
As of October 2026

Cornell AI institute leadership

As of October 2026, he is Cornell’s Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering, directs the AI for Sustainability Initiative, and co-directs the Cornell University AI for Science Institute.

Career

Since 2016Cornell UniversityRoxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Co-director of the Cornell University AI for Science Institute
2011–2016Northwestern UniversityAssistant Professor
2009–2011University of ChicagoArgonne Scholar