PhD Students

Hannah Clarkson (she/her)

Shangsong Li
I received my B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University in 2022. Then I joined Prof Yang’s group in Aug 2022 as a PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering. My research interest is responsive materials (liquid crystal, magnetic microparticles, quantum dots, polymer-based or metal-based composite) which can respond to multiphysical field (AC/DC magnetic field, AC/DC electric field, light irradiation) and their related applications (microrobot, microreactor, biocatalysis).

Antonio Proctor Martinez
I received my B.S. in Fiber Science from Cornell University in 2021. I joined the Yang group in July 2021 as a PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering. During my undergraduate, I was able to take a number of apparel design courses that have supplemented my research perspective and interests. Combined with my background in polymers, it has allowed me to comprehend the use of materials through the eyes of a designer and inform my developments in the laboratory as a scientist. My research interests are within the fields of functional fibers, yarns, and textiles as well as utilizing textile technology/structures for soft and autonomous robotics.

So Hee Nah
I received my B.S. degree in Physics Education from Seoul National University, South Korea in 2019. My research interest focuses on synthesis and assembly of colloidal nanoparticles, molecularly imprinted polymers, photonic crystals, and their potential applications in biosensors, soft actuators, and drug delivery.

Alicia Ng
I received my BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2018. I then worked as a technology consultant at Accenture for a few years and joined the Yang group in August 2021. My research experience includes synthesizing colloids at NYU and formulating UV cure coatings at Axalta. I am interested in the synthesis, application, and sustainability of polymers.
Master Students

Tiffany Chui
I received my B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University in 2022 and joined the Yang group in September 2022 as a Master’s student. My past research focused on the mechanical properties of cellulose based materials. My current research interests include synthesis of functional nanoparticles and sustainable materials.

Jiemin Fu
I received my B.E. in Polymer Science and Engineering from Sichuan University (SCU) in China (2020). Then I joined Prof. Yang's group in September 2021. My research experience includes synthesizing heteroatomic doping fluorinated graphene and fiber reinforced rubber. My research interest now focuses on synthesis of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) shells and their potential applications in actuators, soft robotics, adaptive and self-cleaning surfaces and so on.

Bingzhi He
I received my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2022. I joined the Yang group in 2023 as a master's student in Materials Science and Engineering. My past research focused on the fabrication of soft robots with dielectric elastomers. I will work on micro-/ nanocarrier-based drug delivery.

Rongyue Lin
I received my B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Science and Technology Beijing in China, 2022, and joined the Yang group in January 2023 as a master's student. My research interests are bioelectronics, biofunctional polymers and soft robotics.

Gexu Liu
I received my B.E in Nanotechnology and Science from Beijing Jiaotong University in China and University of Waterloo in Canada (2021). I joined Prof. Yang’s group in February 2023. My previous research includes methods to prepare polydopamine-functionalized graphene hydrogel adsorbent and the study of the interaction between amyloid and model membrane by BLM. My current research focuses on stimuli-responsive materials, mechanical metamaterials, bio-inspired structures, and soft robotics.

Mohit Patel
I have completed my B.Tech in Polymer Science and Engineering from MIT World Peace University, India in 2021. Currently, I am working towards my master's degree in Nanotechnology at University of Pennsylvania. I joined Prof. Yang's group in 2022. My research interests are polymer processing, biopolymers and polymer nanocomposite.

Yueying Yang
I received my B.Eng. degree in Materials Engineering from McGill University, Canada in 2021. I joined the Yang group in 2022 as a master’s student in Materials Science and Engineering. My research interests are actuators, soft robots and architected structures.

Ziyun Zhang
I received my B.S. degree in Textile Engineering from Donghua University, China in 2021. I joined the Yang group in 2022 as a Master student in Materials Science and Engineering. My previous research experience includes modification of fibers, air filtration, functional yarns’ design and membranes. I am currently interested in soft actuators, fibers and e-wearable devices.
Postdoc Fellows

Baohong Chen
I received my B.E. in Aircraft Design and Engineering and M.E. in Solid Mechanics at Xi’an Jiaotong University in 2013 and 2016. My past research topic was designing soft electric actuators. I received my M.E. and Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences at Harvard University in 2018 and 2021. My research focus of the Ph.D. program was on mechanical and electrical properties of polymer interfaces and their applications. I joined Prof. Shu Yang’s lab at UPenn in 2022 as a postdoctoral researcher. My current research interests are bio-adhesives, functional polymers, and tissue engineering. My general research interests are mechanics, electronics, polymers, and neuroscience.

Yinding Chi
I received B.S. in Measurement and Control Technology and Instrumentation from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2014, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Colorado Boulder in 2017 and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 2022. I joined Prof. Shu Yang’s group as a postdoctoral researcher in October 2022. My research interests include stimuli-responsive materials, mechanics guided soft robotics and mechanics and design of mechanical metamaterials.

Hyemin Lee
I received my B.S. and M.S in Chemical Engineering from Seoul National University of Science and Technology in 2014 and 2016. I received Ph.D. in New Energy Engineering from the Seoul National University of Science and Technology in 2020. My research interest focuses on the fabrication of complex structures with soft materials using the semiconductor manufacturing process and advanced nanopatterning process and their applications (e.g., flexible and smart display, and soft robotics).

Yunchan Lee
I received my B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Hanyang University, South Korea in 2014 and my Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Seoul National University, South Korea in 2021. I joined the Yang group as a postdoctoral researcher in February 2023. My research interests surface engineering on patterned films, design and fabrication of complex functional structures, controlling surface property, water harvesting materials and photonic structures.

Kun-Hao (Ted) Yu
I received my B.S. in Civil Engineering from National Central University in 2014 and my M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California in 2016 and 2022, respectively. My research aims to understand and exploit interesting characteristics of bioinspired materials and structures through fundamental mechanics and advanced manufacturing. I joined Prof. Shu Yang’s group as a postdoctoral researcher in September 2022. For more information about my research, please check my website.