Who's Who on Social Media
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Who is Max Lu?

Professor Max Lu is an internationally respected academic leader and chemical engineer, currently serving as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey. With over 600 peer-reviewed publications and 25 international patents, he has built a reputation for research excellence in nanotechnology and sustainability.

June 20, 2025
Sarthak Ahuja
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Sarthak Ahuja

Sarthak Ahuja is a marketing enthusiast currently contributing to digital marketing strategies at Favikon. An alumnus of ESCP Paris with over 2 years of professional experience, he has held multiple marketing roles across industries. Sarthak's work has been published in journals and websites. He loves to read and write about topics concerning sustainability, business, and marketing. You can find him on LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Professor Max Lu: Driving Global Academic Leadership through Research and Innovation

Professor Max Lu is a chemical engineer with over 35 years of experience in materials science, known globally for his contributions to nanotechnology and photocatalysis. He has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications and holds 25 international patents, many of which focus on environmental and energy-related applications. His academic citations have positioned him among the most highly cited scientists in his field. His research has consistently focused on solving real-world challenges through nanomaterials.

He currently serves as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, where he has led a strategy centered on global collaboration, research excellence, and digital transformation. Under his leadership, the university has improved its international rankings and built notable partnerships, including work with the United Nations and Clarivate. He actively promotes interdisciplinary research to address global challenges, especially in sustainability and health. His institutional role is deeply tied to public engagement and research-led policy development.

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Professor Max Lu at the Launch of the UN Training Centre at the University of Surrey (Source: @maxlua8994920, LinkedIn, January 2025)

Before his role at Surrey, Professor Lu held senior leadership positions in Australia, including at the University of Queensland and the University of Wollongong. He has remained an active figure in both UK and Australian higher education landscapes, often bridging initiatives between the two regions. His career reflects a commitment to building academic ecosystems that link science, education, and industry. His ties to two continents give him a uniquely transnational influence within academia.

Beyond administrative leadership, Professor Lu is a vocal advocate for the public value of science. His digital presence focuses on institutional progress, educational reform, and research translation into societal benefits. He frequently shares outcomes of strategic partnerships and university-led innovations on LinkedIn. His communications emphasize data, outcomes, and research impact, aligning with his career-long dedication to applied science.

An Influencer Active on Social Media

Max Lu maintains a focused digital presence across LinkedIn and X, with LinkedIn being the dominant and most impactful platform for his academic communication.

Max's Social Media Strategy Analysis

LinkedIn: Promoting Academic Excellence and Global Partnerships

Professor Max Lu uses LinkedIn as his main digital communication platform, where his role as Vice-Chancellor is visibly intertwined with institutional branding. His posts highlight strategic partnerships—such as with the United Nations, Clarivate, or UNITAR—often tied to sustainability, global development, or academic innovation. Rather than frequent updates, he prioritizes high-impact announcements with clear alignment to research-led outcomes. This focused, event-driven strategy yields a high 19.23% engagement rate, signaling strong community relevance.

His audience consists largely of academic peers, policymakers, and education sector professionals from the UK and Australia. Many of his posts tag institutions like the University of Surrey or United Nations agencies, indicating a collaborative tone aimed at institutional legitimacy. He doesn’t post personal reflections or opinion pieces; instead, he curates thought leadership through achievements and institutional success stories. This makes his content dependable for external stakeholders seeking academic credibility and partnership alignment.

Visually, his posts often feature event photos with dignitaries, official delegations, and banners such as the UN flag or university logos. This consistency reinforces his role as a public-facing academic executive involved in international diplomacy and research outreach. He rarely uses informal language or emojis, maintaining a formal tone that resonates with the professional culture of LinkedIn’s higher education community.

Posting frequency is low—averaging once per month—but the engagement level suggests each post is timed for institutional moments rather than a content calendar. His most impactful updates are those that connect global causes (e.g., sustainability, innovation) with Surrey’s research strengths. The result is a content strategy that, while minimal in volume, excels in reputational impact and professional reach.

  • Username: @maxlua8994920
  • Influence Score: 92/100
  • Followers: 11.5K
  • Activity: 1 post/month
  • Engagement Rate: 19.23%
  • Growth: +4.87% (+538)
  • Average Engagement: 2.2K
  • Posting Habits: Once a month at 4 PM EST

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X (formerly Twitter): Limited Use for Broader Commentary

Professor Max Lu’s presence on X is notably less impactful and serves as a passive outlet for institutional amplification. The content here is sparse, averaging 0.6 tweets per week, and rarely original—often limited to reposts or brief mentions of events already highlighted on LinkedIn. With a 0.25% engagement rate, the platform functions more as a secondary tool for visibility rather than a primary channel for discourse.

His tweets lack the photo-driven or tag-heavy format seen on LinkedIn. Instead, they are plain-text or lightly tagged posts that occasionally mention initiatives from the University of Surrey or share links to broader events. The account has shown no growth over the last 30 days, suggesting it receives little attention from either the audience or Professor Lu’s communication team. The limited activity reflects a deliberate focus elsewhere, rather than neglect.

Unlike his LinkedIn posts, tweets do not include commentary or expanded context, making them less suitable for storytelling or insight sharing. The tone remains professional, but the brevity and lack of interaction reduce the potential for engagement. Without images, institutional tags, or personal remarks, the content struggles to gain traction among X’s more active, real-time user base.

Overall, X appears to serve as a supplementary tool—likely maintained for completeness rather than strategy. Its value may lie in search visibility or for cross-channel presence, but it does not contribute meaningfully to Professor Lu’s public influence. Any future increase in utility would likely require curated threads or active event coverage tailored to the platform’s faster-paced dynamics.

  • Username: @oneinbillion
  • Influence Score: 55.3/100
  • Followers: 2.2K
  • Activity: 0.6 tweets/week
  • Engagement Rate: 0.25%
  • Growth: 0%
  • Average Engagement: 6
  • Posting Habits: Once a week at 6 AM EST

Max Lu's Social Media Influence Summary

With an overall Favikon Influence Score of 6,091 points, Professor Max Lu ranks #36 for LinkedIn in Australia and #2686 globally. He also places #19 in STEM content in Australia and #144 in Chemistry worldwide. These rankings confirm his credibility and impact in education, science, and innovation. His presence is tightly aligned with professional academic audiences, with high authority and engagement in scientific and research-based content. His top-tier performance on LinkedIn contrasts with a less impactful footprint on other platforms, emphasizing his focus on quality over quantity.

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Content Strategy: Academic Leadership with Clarity

Max Lu's content is centered on thought leadership, institutional updates, and achievements in STEM. He avoids sensationalism and instead emphasizes verifiable research outcomes and rankings. His tone is confident, lightly opinionated, and reflects deep alignment with university values and progress metrics. Posts are timed early in the morning, suggesting intent to reach an active professional audience.

Reachability and Partnerships

Professor Max Lu is highly reachable for collaborations within the education, research, and policy sectors, particularly those involving sustainability or institutional development. His digital content regularly features global partnerships, including with UNITAR and the United Nations, reflecting his openness to initiatives with a global scope. His tagging of affiliated institutions and public acknowledgment of visiting leaders indicates active engagement. He uses LinkedIn as a primary point of contact, reinforcing accessibility through professional networks.

An overview of Max’s top influential connections across key industries. (Source: Favikon)

Campaigns that align with his leadership role—such as academic alliances, science diplomacy, or impact-led university projects—are more likely to be considered. His involvement in high-level institutional launches and cross-border collaborations suggests responsiveness to meaningful, long-term partnerships. Sponsored posts and co-branded announcements tied to innovation, climate research, or higher education policy are especially well-suited. Estimated post rates ($348–$426) reflect value tied to academic credibility rather than content volume.

Conclusion: Advancing Global Education Through Strategic Digital Leadership

Professor Max Lu exemplifies digital leadership in academia. His influence comes from a focused, data-driven content strategy on LinkedIn that highlights research and education. While his X presence is limited, it does not detract from his overall authority within higher education networks. For institutions and brands seeking meaningful engagement with academic professionals, Max Lu offers trusted reach, strong performance metrics, and a proven voice in the advancement of science and education.

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