Meet Qianxi He
Qianxi performing materials characterization as part of her research.
Qianxi, is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, 2022 and is currently a Faculty Lecturer at McGill University.
A fun fact about Qianxi is her establishment and management of a public social media account, where she shares travel guides, food exploration, and life inspiration. Additionally, during her PhD program, Qianxi developed novel coating combinations with superior mechanical properties and tribological characteristics, significantly extending the cutting tool lifespan. Additionally during her PhD program, she developed novel coating combination with superior mechanical properties and tribological characteristics, which extended a cutting tool life of 1.3-5 times longer than the commercial inserts. As a result, she published 4 high-IF, Q1-ranking journal papers as the first author and defended her thesis earlier than normal requirement. As a postdoc researcher in recent 2 years, she guided graduate students and further published 7 more journal papers, which makes her feel proud and valuable.
When did your love of STEM begin?
Mechanical engineering has been in my family for two generations, and it was in such a family environment that my interest in the field began. As mechanical engineering professors, my father and grandfather usually discuss their research at home. The discussion about their mechanical and mechanics designing and robotic projects sparked my interest at my young age. When I was in high school, I participated a science and technology innovation competition held in Liaoning Province. I designed foldable storage shelves as an easy solution to save space and transport goods. My design won first prize and received a utility model patent. Both my family influences and the successfully product designing enhanced my confidence that I belonged to engineering.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
One of the best parts about working in STEM is the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and discovery. STEM fields are constantly evolving, presenting exciting challenges and the chance to make groundbreaking contributions to society. Additionally, the collaborative nature of STEM encourages teamwork and interdisciplinary approaches, fostering a sense of community and collective progress. I am excited, as a female researcher, to conduct scientific research, develop novel technology, and apply it to the real manufacturing. The combination of research, application and education make it valuable.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
Don't be afraid! Trust your abilities and know that you belong in STEM just as much as anyone else. Your unique perspective and contributions are valuable.
Tell us a fun fact about you and your current role!
A unique aspect of Qianxi’s profile is her creation and management of a public social media platform where she shares travel insights, culinary discoveries, and reflections that bring inspiration to everyday life. Alongside this interest, she is deeply passionate about her research, through which she developed a novel coating system with enhanced mechanical and tribological performance, enabling cutting tools to achieve lifetimes up to five times longer than commercial inserts. Her work resulted in 4 first-author publications in high-impact, Q1-ranked journals during her PhD, which she completed ahead of the typical timeline.
Qianxi is now a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University, an accomplishment she views as the realization of a long-held goal. Her daily engagement with students, coupled with the opportunity to continue advancing her research, offers her a profound sense of pride, purpose, and fulfillment.