A research team from the School of Materials Science and Egineering and School of Advanced Materials has won the Grand Prize(top award) at the 34th Peking University “Challenge Cup” – May 4th Youth Science Award Competition.
The winning project,“AI-Driven Intelligent Chromatographic Separation and Purification Technology,”was supervised by Professor Mo Fanyang. Team members included Yang Mingbo, Zhao Boxuan, Liu Chengjun, and Cai Wendi.
About the Competition
The “Challenge Cup” is Peking University‘s largest and most prestigious student research competition. This year, 1,326 teams entered. After preliminary reviews, 121 projects advanced to the final defense, including 101 in the May 4th Youth Science Award category.
Final defenses were held on May 16 and May 29, with over 50 experts serving as judges. The competition awarded 41 Grand Prizes, 60 first prizes, 78 second prizes, and 134 third prizes.
About the Winning Project
Chromatographic separation and purification is a core technology in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences. However, traditional methods face challenges including heavy reliance on manual experience, a lack of predictive models, and difficulty transferring tacit knowledge.
To address these bottlenecks, the team developed an AI-driven intelligent system covering major chromatographic techniques (HPLC, TLC, PTLC, and CC), shifting chromatography from experience-driven to intelligence-driven.
Key innovations include:
• A progressive transfer learning framework (TLC → PTLC → CC)
• An adaptive gradient elution algorithm based on Rf value prediction
• A high-throughput data collection platform with standardized datasets
• A fully automated platform with natural language interaction, creating a “use-learn-improve” cycle
Team Reflections
Yang Mingbo(Ph.D. student):
“The Challenge Cup made me rethink what meaningful research truly is. A valuable project starts from a real problem. Our project began with a concrete lab issue: ’running plates‘ and ’running columns‘ are routine yet time-consuming tasks that rely heavily on manual experience. We wanted to use AI to handle repetitive work, freeing researchers to focus on real scientific thinking.”
Cai Wendi(M.S. student):
“Meaningful research must come from real problems and be tested in real scenarios. Interdisciplinary research is not simply applying AI to lab problems—it requires truly understanding chemistry’s core challenges and reconstructing solutions through algorithms and data. This award affirms our work while reminding us that innovation must address real bottlenecks.”
Faculty Advisor
Professor Mo Fanyangis a tenured associate professor at the School of Materials Science, Peking University. His research focuses on the intersection of AI and synthetic chemistry.
Professor Mo’s message:
“Congratulations to the team. Innovation means tackling real challenges and exploring across disciplines. I hope all students dare to think beyond conventional boundaries and learn through trial and error.”
This Grand Prize demonstrates the spirit of Materials Science students who tackle real-world problems at the forefront of their fields. The School will continue to encourage students to pursue scientific excellence and contribute to national innovation.
