Ya Qin
Ya Qin is a master’s candidate in Design Studies with a domain in Ecologies at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. With expertise in product design, material circularity, and multidisciplinary innovation, she tackles sustainability challenges with a unique design perspective and systems-oriented approach. Her work centers on developing closed-loop strategies for material use, fostering resilient and sustainable solutions grounded in practical design processes.
An award-winning designer and LEED Green Associate, Ya began her career in furniture and lighting, where her interest in industrial ecology sparked from observing the repurposing of wood scraps between factories. At Harvard, her focus broadened to bio-materials, and her current research explores bacterial cellulose as a bio-based material for design applications, emphasizing circular design.
In her spare time, Ya enjoys discussing capybaras and pets, engaging in graphic design and animal illustration, and spending time outdoors.
The Salata Institute
The Salata Institute supports interdisciplinary research that leads to real-world action, including high-risk/high-reward projects by researchers already working in the climate area and new endeavors that make it easier for Harvard scholars, who have not worked on climate problems, to do so. Faculty interested in the Climate Research Clusters program should note an upcoming deadline for concepts on April 1, 2024.