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Xile Hu

@xilehu-epfl.bsky.social
966 followers 400 following 104 posts

Professor at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnic Fédérale de Lausanne). lsci.epfl.ch; catalysis - heterogeneous, homogeneous, bio; membrane; electrochemical energy device. Co-founder and chairman, NovaMea. novamea.swiss

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Reposted by Xile Hu
Paul J. Dauenhauer @pauldauenhauer.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Why Your University Has So Many Administrators www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
chronicle.com
Opinion | Why Your University Has So Many Administrators
Great teaching is expensive, but back-office functions should be getting cheaper. Why aren’t they?
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Unfortunately this is the wise thing to do. Some national conferences in the US are good and attended by international scholars. Unfortunately no longer a viable option. Bad for everyone involved. Chemchat
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Brian Merchant @bcmerchant.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Spotify is garbage on every count: Its treatment of artists, its ICE advertising, the CEO's investment in military AI, its leading role in the commodification and AI slopification of music, its terrible audio quality—you name it. So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
bloodinthemachine.com
How to quit Spotify
This Black Friday, here's a guide to finding the best Spotify alternative
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
My PhD advisor Karsten Meyer, was in town to give a seminar, 25 years after I joined his group at UC San Diego as the first PhD. We would never have thought of this day. Chemchat, chemski
Karsten Meyer and Xile Hu in front of the seminar slide of Meyer, 2025 at epflKarsten Meyer and Xile Hu at Hu’s phd defense, 2004 in San Diego
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
We are able to put two different cofactors in one protein scaffold and make them do catalysis together. It is amazing that it actually works. Chemchat chemsky
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Nature Synthesis @natsynth.nature.com · 20/11/2025
Now online: Article by Xile Hu & co-workers @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social Construction of dual-cofactor artificial metalloenzymes for synergistic and enantiodivergent catalysis of Michael addition reactions www.nature.com/articles/s44... ($) #Chemsky
nature.com
Construction of dual-cofactor artificial metalloenzymes for synergistic and enantiodivergent catalysis of Michael addition reactions - Nature Synthesis
A dual-cofactor artificial metalloenzyme is developed, incorporating a biotinylated nickel complex and a Strep-tagged peptide catalyst in adjacent streptavidin-binding sites. This synergistic artifici...
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Is this really surprising chemsky? Lots of sayings are survival biased. Sure if it does not kill you it makes you stronger. Problem is 9 of 10 times you are just killed.
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Tell me you are not a chemical engineer without telling me.
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Sascha Feldmann @feldmannlab.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Postdoc Opening at EPFL - please share! I am hiring a post-doctoral fellow here in the Laboratory for Energy Materials at EPFL to work on the next generation of quantum light sources, with an earliest start date of January 2026 for up to 4 years. #quantum #light #energymaterials #academia #jobalert
Postdoc opening in Feldmann Lab at EPFL on quantum light sources
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
News that shocks no one: Carbon offsets do nothing for climate.
theguardian.com
Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says
Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 29/10/2024
In recognition of us doing fuck all to reduce emissions, let me remind y'all that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is useless unless we decarbonize drastically. rdcu.be/dbFbB
nature.com
Carbon dioxide removal is not a current climate solution — we need to change the narrative
Drastically reduce emissions first, or carbon dioxide removal will be next to useless.
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🎃Autopsy of Ashley Lynch 🔪🎞️ @ashleylynch.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
WeTransfer just changed their TOS giving themselves permission to train AI on any content you transfer and produce derivative works based on content you transfer that they are allowed to monetize and you are not allowed payment for. Stop using WeTransfer.
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
For anyone who had lived in the US in better days (like myself), this is sad to see. #chemsky
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
@kay-severin.bsky.social I guess no more laughing gas parties?
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
We developed an encapsulated NiCo alloy catalyst for high temp CO2 reduction in solid oxide electrochemical cells. An voltage of 1.1 V at 1 A/cm2, corresponding to 90% energy efficiency. The reactions produce CO in 100% selectively and we run it for 2000 h. www.nature.com/articles/s41... #chemsky
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European Commission @ec.europa.eu · 08/05/2025
Choose Science. Choose Europe. A new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call is now open. With a budget of €404.3 million, it will support around 1,650 researchers from Europe and beyond. Apply by 10 September → europa.eu/!fBTMgF
A graphic for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), showing a historical portrait of Marie Skłodowska-Curie overlaid with an image of four young researchers walking down a hallway. The European Commission logo is in the top left. Text reads: "Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – €404.3 million to support postdoctoral researchers”
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
EU has made its choice clear and loud: the choice of science, freedom, and collaboration. Time for Switzerland and EPFL to follow suite. @snsf-ch.bsky.social
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Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · 05/05/2025
Europe’s choice is clear. To put science at the heart of its economy. To become the home of scientific freedom and collaboration. And to welcome talent from all over the world. I’m glad to present the first elements of our Choose Europe Initiative. → europa.eu/!TTbWbJ
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
This is too good to pass by😂
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
I am very pleased to announce the closing of a 9 M Series A financing round for our startup NovaMea. We are fully committed to develop critical materials such as membranes and catalysts for anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers, enabling green hydrogen production at large scale and low cost.
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Great title: the rise of bullshit jobs in universities:-)
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
#chemsky I won’t go to US for a foreseeable future because I am guilty on several counts: 1. Being born in China; 2. Doing « sustainable » research; 3. Having infinitely negative opinion on MAGA cartels. I am genuinely afraid at the us border control. I am nostalgic of my previous life in US.
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
My wife asked me, should we stop Netflix because it is American? I said, I know we should boycott Disney because it is part of their gang, (and of course telsa, meta, amazon, Silicon Valley), but not sure about Nerflix. American friends, and #chemsky, what do you think?
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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
You first.
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Matt Rosoff @mattrosoff.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Excellent truth-telling from @dechant.bsky.social: “Now we have a better idea why Occidental was keen to pick up the pricey [carbon capture] technology: They want to use it to pump more oil.” Same as it ever was… techcrunch.com/2025/02/21/t...
techcrunch.com
The real reason why oil and gas companies are bullish on carbon capture | TechCrunch
Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub compared using CO2 in enhanced oil recovery to fracking, the technology that sent U.S. oil and gas production skyrocketing.
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Wow… the ancient Chinese sage! So true for many countries today.
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
When bureaucrates roll out policies that have never been tested for self-claimed noble goals, it takes a long time for some research to be done to show they are wrong. But damaged are done and hard to correct @snsf-ch.bsky.social yes I am talking about your policies.
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Pleasure to contribute to this study led by @lingenfelderlab.bsky.social
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Amazing thread from Jeremy Berg giving insights in the elite academic publishing system. His tell-it-as-he-thinks is so refreshing. It is like public display of “tell you over a drink” contents. @jeremymberg.bsky.social #chemsky
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
A non precious hydrogen evolution catalyst that can actually be used in a prototype electrolyzer running at 3 A/cm2: pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a... In addition to detailed synthesis and activity , we report operando study that reveal the catalyst to be a novel MoOx-supported Ni4Mo species. #chemsky
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
We have a group logo now! #chemsky Thanks to our designated artist (and postdoc) Damien. Not able to cover all topics we work on, but at least you know Who we are working with😀 #catalysis #epfl #academiclife
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
By incorporating two cofactors into the four binding sites of streptavidin, we engineered programmable artifical enzymes for tandem abiotic transformations including an enantioselective formal C–H hydroxylation and a photooxidation-Michael addition. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #chemsky
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Less parking, more Nobel Prizes! I love the humour of our parking admin. #academicsky #chemsky Talking about out of box thinking. P.S. for the moment we have zero NP laureate in our history.
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
It is actually not far from truth, although such a letter is better addressed to university presidents than students…
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Mathias Christmann @christmann.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Hi Manuel, Happy New Year! You can use Decimer.ai by Christoph Steinbeck & team. Simply copy the structure from a screen or PDF, paste it into Decimer to get the SMILES, and then paste the SMILES into ChemDraw. #ChemSky
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
Academics can be fun sometimes
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
My nomination for molecular of the year, #chemski, is « molecular machine learning »! After molecular dynamics, molecular simulation, and even molecular physics had their shares of shine in previous years, it is time to honor the rise of machines in the molecular world!
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Open access rant #chemsky. Maybe it is end of year, I am actually irritated to receive email from library saying their negotiation with Wiley is tough going blabla and say you can continue to publish in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social . As if they can tell us where we to or not to publish!
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Never thought that I would looked at Vanity Faire one day but it turned out they have some bones
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
It is coming
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
The privilege of being a university professor is to be with a group of passionate young (and regeneratively young:-)) mentees and work on subjects that interest us. A reflection at our end of year gathering. #chemsky #realtimechem
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Philippe Schwaller @pschwllr.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
We are hiring (resharing appreciated)! Given recent successful grant applications (I got my SNSF Starting Grant 🚀), we are extending the LIAC team with multiple openings (PhD/postdoc) for 2025. Apply now (deadline: December 20th) by filling in this form: forms.fillout.com/t/eq5ADAw3kkus. #ChemSky
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Dorothy Bishop @deevybee.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
For those who missed it: Elon Musk, the Royal Society, and me deevybee.blogspot.com/2024/11/why-...
deevybee.blogspot.com
Why I have resigned from the Royal Society
The Royal Society is a venerable institution founded in 1660, whose original members included such eminent men as Christopher Wren, Robert H...
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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 26/11/2024
Okay, I have to do a thread on this pretty amazing article because it is just seriously chockers with eye-opening stats about 'direct air capture' - ie, sucking up air and trying to remove carbon dioxide from it news.mit.edu/2024/reality...
news.mit.edu
Reality check on technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the air
An MIT Energy Initiative study finds many climate-stabilization plans are based on questionable assumptions about the future cost and deployment of “direct air capture” and therefore may not bring abo...
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Our latest paper: Field-enhanced CO electroreduction in membrane electrolyzers at a dehydrated interface. We achieve 2.5 A cm−2 at 2.7 V, with ethylene yields of 40%+ and C2+ of 80%. Using needle-like catalysts to intensify electric fields and accumulate K+ and water. www.cell.com/chem/fulltex...
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Xile Hu @xilehu-epfl.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Now I know: they think my first name is female and they cannot pronounce my last name…
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 13/08/2024
Taylorism is a management philosophy based on using scientific optimization to maximize labor productivity and economic efficiency. Here's the result of making the false Taylorist assumption that the output of scientific research is scientific papers—the more, faster, and cheaper, the better.
The AI Scientist: Towards Fully Automated
Open-Ended Scientific Discovery
Chris Lu1,2,*, Cong Lu3,4,*, Robert Tjarko Lange1,*, Jakob Foerster2,†, Jeff Clune3,4,5,† and David Ha1,†
*Equal Contribution, 1Sakana AI, 2FLAIR, University of Oxford, 3University of British Columbia, 4Vector Institute, 5Canada CIFAR
AI Chair, †Equal Advising
One of the grand challenges of artificial general intelligence is developing agents capable of conducting
scientific research and discovering new knowledge. While frontier models have already been used as aids
to human scientists, e.g. for brainstorming ideas, writing code, or prediction tasks, they still conduct
only a small part of the scientific process. This paper presents the first comprehensive framework for
fully automatic scientific discovery, enabling frontier large language models (LLMs) to perform research
independently and communicate their findings. We introduce The AI Scientist, which generates
novel research ideas, writes code....
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Eliver Ghosn @eliverghosn.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Here are other resources of *free* science illustrations: bioicons.com, scidraw.io, inkscape.org, biogdp.com They still look like BioRender style thou.
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Jon Lim, FRCP PhD @drjonlim.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
🎨 In case anyone need… The NIH BioArt Source is an awesome library of *free* professionally drawn illustrations for scientific presentations or figures. Downloadable in HD. Thank you NIH for this invaluable tool 🙏! Check it out 👇 bioart.niaid.nih.gov
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