Fengshuang Du is the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering’s Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate student for 2021. She was recognized for her independence and enthusiasm for scientific research and her contributions to the field of enhancing oil recovery from shale reservoirs

Originally from Hegnshui in Hebei Province, China, Fengshuang earned her BS from China University of Petroleum in 2013 and her MS from the University of Regina, Canada, in 2016 before joining the department as a doctoral student.

Fengshuang’s research has focused on reservoir simulation, phase behavior, and gas injection in shale reservoirs as it relates to carbon sequestration. “I’ve always enjoyed exploring the unknown,” said Fengshuang, “and I will try my best to make research contributions to the oil and gas industry.”

According to her advisor, department assistant professor Bahareh Nojabaei, Fengshuang developed a simulation model to predict the production and design of gas injection enhanced oil recovery in shales. “The numerical simulation of shale is quite challenging as there are uncertainties about mass transport,” explained Nojabaei, “Fengshuang overcame many of these challenges in her work.”

In addition to her research, Fengshuang served two years as the vice president of the Virginia Tech Student Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). She represented the department and its proposed undergraduate minor in petroleum and natural gas engineering at the 2019 SPE Eastern Regional Meeting. She has also served as teaching assistant for the Thermodynamics for Resources course.

“I am thankful for my wonderful PhD experience at Virginia Tech in a beautiful town, such as Blacksburg,” said Fengshuang. “My advisor, professors, staff, and friends offered me much help along the way in my research and my life, and I’m very appreciative of that.”

Fengshuang is currently serving as a Post Doctoral researcher at China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, China, and plans to pursue a career in academic research.