About Me

I'm a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering at University of Pittsburgh. I received my Bachelor degree in Power and Energy Engineering from Xi'an Jiao Tong University and obtained my Master degree in Turbine machinery from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. My research background falls in the interdisciplinary of computational design, experimental validation and additive manufacturing. My research efforts have resulted in 12 publications in leading journals and commercialization of optimization algorithms through ANSYS, the world’s leading engineering simulation software company. I have also won 1st place in a student poster competition at the RAPID conference in 2017 for presenting my work on lattice infill optimization. Additionally, I have helped my PhD advisor secure 3 grants from America Makes, DOE, and Army by contributing new ideas and writing to his proposals.

My research interests includes design automation for therm-fluid-structural system, hierarchical material design, simulation-based optimization for manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, big data.

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy

Advisor: Prof. Albert C. To

Dissertation: Modeling-Based Design, Optimization, and Experimental Study for Metallic Additive Manufacturing

University of Pittsburgh

2014-present

Master of Science

Advisor: Prof. Bo Yang

Thesis: A mesh-free Method for Modeling Water Turbine

Major: Turbine Mechanical Engineering

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

2011-2014

2007-2011

Bachelor of Science

Major: Power and Energy Engineering

Minor: Economics

Xi'an Jiao Tong University

HONORS AND AWARD

1st Place in Poster Competition at RAPID + TCT Conference 2017

Poster Title: Efficient Design of Additive Manufactured Lattice Structures by Integrating Micromechanics

Modeling and Topology Optimization”

Graduate Travel Award at International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium 2017
Graduate Travel Award at International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium 2016
1st Award of Energy Saving and Emission Reduction at Xi’an Jiao Tong University 2010
Excellent Student Cadre at Xi’an Jiao Tong University 2010
2nd Award of Mathematic Modeling Competition at Xi’an Jiao Tong University 2009, 2010
Social Active Student at Xi’an Jiao Tong University 2008
Si Yuan Scholarship at Xi’an Jiao Tong University 2008-2011

PROPOSAL WRITING EXPERIENCES

DOE Nuclear Engineering University Program (NEUP), 2018, “Integrating Dissolvable Supports, Topology Optimization, and Microstructure Design to Drastically Reduce Costs in Developing and Post-Processing Nuclear Plant Components Produced by Laser-based Powder Bed Additive Manufacturing”, $1,000,000.00, Awarded.
Army SBIR Phase II, 2018, “Cellular Architecture Optimization for Tailored Frequency Response, in Missile Components and Structure”, $1,000,000.00, Awarded.
DOE RAPID Institute, 2018: Maturing Additive Manufacturing of Heat Exchangers for Chemical Processing Applications thru Design Optimization and Dissolvable Supports, $780,554, Declined.
NASA Transformative Tools and Technologies Program, 2018, “Efficient Design Optimization Tool Development for Multifunctional, Multi-Material, Structural-Thermal Subsystems for Electric Aircraft Propulsion”, $600,000, Declined.
NSF RFP-Program, 2018, “Optimal Design and Post-processing of Plastic Injection Molds Manufactured by Laser Power Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing”, $750,000, Declined.
NSF CMMI-Program, 2017, “A Modified Inherent Strain Theory for Fast Prediction of Residual Stress and Deformation of Additive Manufactured Metal Parts”, $350,000, Declined.
American Makes, 2015, “Integrated Design Tool Development for High Potential Additive Manufacturing Applications”, $957,000, Awarded.

TEACHING AND MENTOR EXPERIENCES

Graduate Mentor

Student: Jiaxi Bai

Project: Secondary development of SpaceClaim for reconstruction of variable-density lattice structure

Undergraduate Mentor

Students: Kevin Laux and Joseph Brown

Project: Experimental investigation of force convection heat transfer for lattice structure

Trainer of Stratasys Objet260 Connex 3D Printer
Substitute Instructor

ME 2086: Mechanics of 3D Printed Materials and Structures

ME 2060: Numerical Methods

Completion of Teaching Certificate Program at University of Pittsburgh (CRLT)

2015-2016

2016-2017

2015-2016

Fall 2018

Spring 2018

Fall 2018

ACADEMIC SERVICE

Journal Article Reviewer

Additive Manufacturing

Rapid Prototyping

Computer-aided design

AIAA

International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering

Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering