Niannian Fan | Hydrology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Niannian Fan | Hydrology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Niannian Fan, Sichuan University, China

Dr. Niannian Fan is an Associate Researcher at the National Key Laboratory of Mountain River Protection and Governance, Sichuan University. With a Ph.D. in Hydraulic Engineering from Tsinghua University and a B.Eng. in Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering from Sichuan University, he specializes in river morphodynamics, hydrological processes, and fluvial geomorphology. His research explores sediment transport, river capture, and geomorphic evolution on millennial timescales. Dr. Fan has published extensively in prestigious journals such as Nature Communications and Geophysical Research Letters. His work has been recognized with several national awards and invitations to speak at prominent academic conferences. He also serves as principal investigator on major research projects funded by the NSFC and regional institutions. A forward-thinking hydrologist, Dr. Fan integrates geoscientific data and modeling to unravel the intricate relationships between climate, tectonics, and river systems in China and beyond.

Professional Profile

Scopus

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Suitability Assessment for Research for Best Researcher Award: Niannian Fan

Niannian Fan stands out as a highly qualified candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award owing to a strong and consistent record of impactful research, leadership in scientific projects, and recognized academic excellence. With a Ph.D. in Hydraulic Engineering from the prestigious Tsinghua University, Fan has dedicated over a decade to advancing the field of river dynamics, sediment transport, and geomorphology, particularly focusing on mountain river systems and fluvial evolution.

Fan’s academic journey reflects progressive research responsibility, currently holding the position of Associate Researcher at the National Key Laboratory of Mountain River Protection and Governance, Sichuan University. This role, combined with previous experience as an Assistant Researcher and international exposure as a Visiting Scholar at renowned institutions like the University of British Columbia and University of Central Florida, underlines a solid foundation in both independent and collaborative research environments.

🎓 Education

Dr. Niannian Fan holds a Ph.D. in Hydraulic Engineering from Tsinghua University (2009–2014), where he developed his expertise in sediment transport and river dynamics. Prior to that, he completed his undergraduate studies in Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering at Sichuan University (2005–2009). His educational journey reflects a solid foundation in both theoretical and applied aspects of hydrology, hydraulics, and geomorphology. Through rigorous coursework, advanced research, and laboratory experiments, he cultivated analytical skills crucial for investigating complex riverine systems. His doctoral research focused on interactions among flow, sediment, and bed morphology—critical for understanding hydrological evolution and fluvial processes. These academic credentials have laid the groundwork for his cutting-edge investigations in hydrological science and mountain river systems, influencing flood management, paleohydrology, and environmental protection efforts. This blend of top-tier education and focused hydrological study sets Dr. Fan apart as a leading scholar in the hydrology domain.

💼 Professional Experience 

Since 2018, Dr. Niannian Fan has served as an Associate Researcher at the National Key Laboratory of Mountain River Protection and Governance, Sichuan University, leading innovative studies on river evolution and sediment dynamics. He began his professional academic career as an Assistant Researcher (2014–2018) at the same institution. Dr. Fan has also enriched his global perspective through visiting scholar positions at the University of British Columbia (2016–2017) and the University of Central Florida (2014), where he collaborated on river geomorphology and flow modeling projects. Over the years, he has taken on significant responsibilities, including leading government-funded research projects and mentoring junior researchers. His professional portfolio emphasizes interdisciplinary research and real-world hydrological applications, such as ancient dammed lakes’ impact on prehistoric human settlement and tectonic-driven river reorganization. Dr. Fan’s academic leadership, coupled with a rich fieldwork and modeling background, continues to shape hydrological understanding in complex mountain terrains.

🏅 Awards and Recognition

Dr. Niannian Fan’s pioneering work in hydrology and river geomorphology has earned him multiple accolades. Notably, he received the 2021 Excellent Young Scholar Award – Good Future Program from Sichuan University, recognizing his outstanding contributions to river evolution studies. His collaborative research on Pleistocene river capture earned distinction at Sichuan University (2019), and his academic insights have been featured in national conferences such as the Hydraulics History Lecture Series (2025) and the National Conference on Geomorphology (2019, 2020). These recognitions underscore his reputation as an authority in long-term river evolution, sediment dynamics, and tectonic-hydrological interactions. His presentations, focusing on river captures and landscape response over orbital to tectonic timescales, reflect a deep understanding of both regional and global fluvial systems. Through his awards and talks, Dr. Fan has significantly influenced hydrological and geomorphological discourse, demonstrating leadership and innovation in water resource research.

🌍 Research Skills On Hydrology

Dr. Niannian Fan brings a diverse skill set to hydrological science, encompassing sediment transport modeling, fluvial geomorphology, river capture analysis, and geoarchaeological fieldwork. He specializes in studying the interactions between flow, sediment, and particle sizes during bedload transport. His work integrates advanced modeling techniques, field data collection, and historical geomorphic reconstructions to understand long-term river system evolution. Dr. Fan’s research also explores tectonic and climatic influences on river courses using sediment provenance analysis and morphometric indices. His skills extend to multidisciplinary collaborations—linking hydrology, archaeology, and geomorphology to interpret human-river interactions in prehistoric times. With a sharp focus on complex mountainous river basins, he adeptly employs GIS, remote sensing, and isotope geochemistry tools. These capabilities enable him to unravel the intricate processes that shape river dynamics over millennia. His research acumen has propelled breakthroughs in understanding ancient flood events and their implications for present-day river management.

📖 Publication Top Notes

1. Geoarchaeological evidence of an ancient landslide dam (13–4.7 ka) and consequent outburst flood on the Minjiang River near Wenchuan, China

  • Journal: CATENA

  • Year: 2024

  • Authors: Niannian Fan, Xingguo Yang, Michael J. Storozum, Xuefeng Cheng, Lan Li, Weiming Liu, Zhipeng Lin, Xingnian Liu
2. From Desiccation to Re‐Integration of the Yellow River Since the Last Glaciation

  • Journal: Geophysical Research Letters

  • Year: 2023

  • Authors: Yuqi Zhao, Niannian Fan, Junsheng Nie, Jordan T. Abell, Yu An, Zhangdong Jin, Chengshan Wang, Jiafu Zhang, Xingnian Liu, Ruihua Nie

3. Interplay of Turbulent Flow and Various Sized Particles in Sediment Transport

  • Type: Preprint (ESSOAr)

  • Year: 2020

  • Authors: Niannian Fan, Marwan A. Hassan, Qiang Zhong, Ruihua Nie, Conor Mcdowell, Xingnian Liu

4. Bed load transport for a mixture of particle sizes: Downstream sorting rather than anomalous diffusion

  • Journal: Journal of Hydrology

  • Year: 2017

  • Authors: Niannian Fan, Yushu Xie, Ruihua Nie