Laboratory for Extreme Mechanics & Additive Manufacturing
Zou's Research Group | Department of Material Science and Engineering
Principal Investigator
Yu Zou
Associate Professor and Dean's Spark Professor
Canada Research Chair in Materials and Manufacturing for Extreme Environments
Department of Materials Science & Engineering (primary appointment)
Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (cross-appointed)
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, University of Toronto
Office: PT 172A
Email: mse.zou@utoronto.ca
B.Eng. (Beihang University), M.Eng. (McGill University), Dr.Sc. (ETH Zurich), Postdoc (MIT)
Bio: Dr. Yu Zou joined the MSE Department at U of T as an Assistant Professor in January 2018, after working as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT (with A. John Hart). He received his doctorate, master's, and bachelor degrees from ETH Zurich (with Ralph Spolenak), McGill University (with Jerzy Szpunar and Stephen Yue), and Beihang University (with Hua-Ming Wang) respectively, all in materials science and engineering. He was also a JSPS visiting scholar at Kyoto University (with Takayuki Kitamura). His research areas include physical metallurgy, nanomechanics, microstructural analysis, and metal additive manufacturing.
Since 2018, as the principal investigator (PI), he has secured more than $20 million CAD in research funding from various Canadian funding agencies, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Ontario Research Fund (ORF), New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF), and Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (Mitacs).
Awards
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Distinguished Materials Scientist Award, Metallurgy and Materials Society Canada, 2025
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TMS Frontiers of Materials Award, 2025
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The Brimacombe Award, Metallurgy and Materials Society Canada, 2023
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Connaught Innovation Award, University of Toronto, 2023
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Ontario Early Researcher Award, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, 2022
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TMS Early Career Faculty Fellow Award, 2022
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TMS Materials Processing & Manufacturing Division Young Leader Award, 2021
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JMR Early Career Scholars Prize, Materials Research Society (MRS), 2020
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Outstanding reviewer award Acta/Scripta Materialia, 2019
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The Dean’s Spark Professorship, FASE, University of Toronto, 2018
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Connaught New Researcher Award (top-up funding), University of Toronto, 2018
Research Associate
Chenwei Shao, Ph.D
Research Associate
Ph.D. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017
M.Eng. Northeastern University, 2013
B.Sc. Northeastern University, 2011
Research Interests:
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Fatigue-resistance design of materials (including steels, HEAs, Al alloys, Ti alloys, etc.) and structures.
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Fatigue life prediction and extension.
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High throughput design and additive manufacturing of advanced materials (e.g., nanomaterials, functional gradient materials, metal matrix composites).
Office: PT158
Email: chenwei.shao@utoronto.ca
Postdoctoral Fellows
Soumya Sohhan Dash, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D Toronto Metropolitan University, 2023
M.Tech National Institute of Technology Rourekla, 2019
B.Tech National Institute of Technology Rourekla, 2019
Research Interests: Physical Metallurgy, Casting and Solidification, Additive Manufacturing, Fatigue, Materials Characterization
Hobbies: Cycling, Cooking, Photography, Badminton
Office: PT81
Email: ss.dash@utoronto.ca
Mingyu Xie, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D Peking University, 2023
B.Sc. Lanzhou University, 2018
Research Interests: Experimental mechanics; Anelasticity of materials; Piezoelectric materials and transducers; Photo-elastic
Hobbies: Basketball, Fitness, Badminton
Office: PT173
Email: mingyu.xie@utoronto.ca
Huicong Chen, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D McGill University 2022
M.Eng. Chongqing University 2017
B.Eng. Chongqing University 2014
Research Interests: Multi-Scale Computation (DFT, MD, DDD and Crystal Plasticity), Crystal Defects (Dislocation, Twin, Grain Boundary), Light Alloys, Solid-state Phase Transformation
Hobbies: Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Fitness
Office: PT158
Email: uc.chen@utoronto.ca
Zhuocheng Xie, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D South China University of Technology 2024
B.Eng. South China University of Technology 2019
Research Interests:Computational Materials Science (MD,DDD), Nano-mechanics, Advanced structural alloy, Shock dynamics
Hobbies: Basketball, Badminton, Movies
Office: PT158
Email: zhuocheng.xie@utoronto.ca
Hao Chen, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D Chongqing University 2024
Joint Ph.D Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon 2023
M.Sc Chongqing University 2020
Research Interests: Deformation mechanism, Ti alloy and Zr alloy
Hobbies: Basketball, Fishing
Office: PT158
Email: cxds.chen@utoronto.ca
Lulu Guo, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D University of Manitoba, 2024
M.Sc Central South University, 2017
B.Sc Central South University, 2014
Research Interests: High strain rate deformation response of metals and alloys, Solid-state phase transformation, Additive manufacturing
Hobbies: Badminton, Workout, and Cooking
Office: TBD
Email: utlulu.guo@utoronto.ca
Jiahui (Barry) Zhang, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D University of Toronto, 2025
B.Eng. Southern University of Science and Technology. 2019
Research Interests: Additive Manufacturing, Machine Learning, Topology Optimization.
Hobbies: Basketball, Fitness, Travelling.
Office: PT 177
Email: jiah.zhang@mail.utoronto.ca
Shenliang Yang, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. University of British Columbia, 2025
M.A.Sc. Beihang University, 2020
Research Interests: Manufacturing Processes; Modeling and Simulation; Residual Stresses; Fatigue
Hobbies: Traveling; Hiking; Forecasting Weather
Office: TBD
Email: shenliang.yang@utoronto.ca
Haodong Huang, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. Monash University, 2025
B.Eng. (Hons). Monash University, 2019
Research Interests: Magnetic Materials, Additive Manufacturing, Recycling, Nanomechanics
Hobbies: Rock climbing, Hiking, Movies, Yoga, Photography
Office: PT 81
Email: haodong.huang@utoronto.ca
Wandong Wang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. University of Toronto, 2025
M.Sc. Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2020
B.Eng. University of Science and Technology Beijing, 2017
Research Interests: High-entropy Alloys, Mechanical Properties, Nano-indentation.
Hobbies: Travel, Movies, Exercise.
Office: TBD
Email: wand.wang@mail.utoronto.ca
Zhenyang Gao, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2025
M.Sc. McGill University, 2020
B.Sc. University of Waterloo, 2018
B.Sc. University of Science and Technology in Beijing, 2018
Research Interests: AI-driven multi-physics programming of metamaterials , machine learning, autoregressive large language AI models
Hobbies: Swimming, Outdoor sports, Singing, Cooking, Hiking
Office: TBD
Email: zhenyang.gao@utoronto.ca
Graduate Students
Tianyi Lyu, B.A.Sc.
Ph.D. Candidate
B.A.Sc. University of Toronto. 2020
Research Interests: High-entropy Alloy Design with Computational Facilitation.
Hobbies: Soccer, Chinese Calligraphy.
Office: TBD
Email: ty.lyu@mail.utoronto.ca
Lizhong Lang, B.Eng.
Ph.D. Candidate
B.Eng. Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2021
Research Interests: High-Entropy Alloys, Nanomechanics, In-situ Micro-Mechanical Tests and Characterization.
Hobbies: Soccer, Hiking, Mahjong.
Office: PT81
Xiao Shang, M.Eng.
Ph.D. Candidate
M.Eng, McGill University. 2018
B.Eng. South China University of Technology, 2015
Research Interests: Additive Manufacturing, Machine Learning.
Hobbies: Snowboarding, Jogging, DIY Projects.
Office: TBD
Email: xiao.shang@mail.utoronto.ca
Personal website: https://xshang93.github.io/
Ajay Talbot, B.A.Sc
Ph.D. Candidate
B.A.Sc. University of Alberta. 2022
Research Interests: Additive Manufacturing, Machine Learning, New Alloy Design.
Hobbies: Fitness, Snowboarding, Cars, Board Games.
Office: WB 144
Email: ajay.talbot@mail.utoronto.ca
Ruitian Chen, B.Sc.
Ph.D. Candidate
B.Sc. University of Science and Technology of China, 2022
Research Interests: Ionic crystals
Hobbies: Travelling, Badminton, Tennis, Fishing
Office: TBD
Nuo Qu
Ph.D. Candidate
B.Eng. Xiamen University, 2023
Research Interests: Cold spray, Permanent magnets
Hobbies: Violin, Badminton
Office: TBD
Email: nuo.qu@mail.utoronto.ca
Sang Bum Yi
Ph.D. Candidate
M.A.Sc. University of Toronto, 2023
B.Sc. University of Toronto, 2021
Research Interests: High-Entropy Alloys, Physical Properties (Electrical/Magnetic)
Hobbies: Eating, Running
Office: TBD
Email: sangbum.yi@mail.utoronto.ca
Zhengyanyan Leo Li, M.Eng.
Ph.D. Candidate
M.Eng. University of Toronto, 2024
B.A.Sc. University of Toronto, 2022
Research Interests: Electrodeposition, Bio-ceramics, Bio-HEA
Hobbies: Cooking, Reading, Cycling
Office: MB220D
Shaojia (Shawn) Wang, B.A.Sc.
Ph.D. Candidate
B.A.Sc University of Toronto, 2023;
Research Interests: 3D Printing, Soft Robotics, Machine Learning
Hobbies: Basketball, Snowboarding
Office: MB75
Hyun Suk (Hyun) Choi, M.Sc, EIT
Ph.D. Candidate
M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, University of North Dakota, 2023
B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, University of North Dakota, 2021
Research Interests: Additive Manufacturing, Materials Characterization, Tribology and wear
Hobbies: Travel, Cooking, photography
Office: PT173
Naga Aditya Yarlapati, MASc.
Ph.D. Student
M.A.Sc. University of Waterloo, 2025
Research Interests: Refractory Alloys, Structure-Property Correlation, Metal Additive Manufacturing
Hobbies: Movies, Reading, Travelling
Office: TBA
Evelyn Li, B.A.Sc
M.A.Sc Student
B.A.Sc University of Toronto, 2024
Research Interests: Nuclear materials, additive manufacturing, corrosion, machine learning
Hobbies: Photography, broadgames
Office: TBD
Email: wenxuan.li@mail.utoronto.ca
Kate Hardman, B.Eng BME
M.A.Sc Student
BEngBME McMaster University, 2024
Research Interests: Biomaterials, osteointegration, load-bearing implants
Hobbies: knitting, baking, travel
Office: MB220D
Jack Mogus, M.Sc.
Ph.D. Student
M.Sc. McGill University, 2025
B.Sc. University of Guelph, 2023
Research Interests: Cold spray, High-entropy alloys, Tribology and wear, Materials characterization
Hobbies: Hiking, Soccer, Cycling
Office: TBA
Email: jack.mogus@utoronto.ca
Kaiqi Qiu
Undergraduate Student
B.A.Sc. University of Toronto (on-going)
Research Interests: Photoluminescence Material, Electrodynamics, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW)
Hobbies: Badminton, Swimming, Skating
Office: PT173
Email: kaiqi.qiu@mail.utoronto.ca
Alec Chen
Undergraduate Student, Summer Researcher
B.A.Sc. University of Toronto (on-going)
Research Interests: Additive Manufacturing, Product Design, Machine Learning
Hobbies: Basketball, Photography, Cooking
Office: TBA
Collin Pickersgill
Summer Researcher
B.A.Sc. University of Toronto, 2025
Research Interests: Additive Manufacturing, Structural Alloys, Catalytic Materials
Hobbies: Soccer, Music, Skateboarding
Office: TBA
Rory Shan
Undergraduate Student, Summer Researcher
B.A.Sc. University of Toronto (on-going, expected 2027)
Research Interests: Biomaterials, AM Motors
Hobbies: Drawing, Reading, Skating
Office: TBA
Email: rory.shan@mail.utoronto.ca
Zheyuan Ji, B.Eng.
Ph.D. Student
B.Eng. Tianjin University, 2025
Research Interests: Semiconductors
Hobbies: Fitness, Basketball
Office: TBA
Email: zheyuan.ji@mail.utoronto.ca
Alumni
2025
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Jingjie (Peter) Wei, M.Eng (2021-2025)
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Lijun Wang, Ph.D, Postdoctoral Fellow (2024 -2025)
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Kailin Chen, M.Eng (2024-2025)
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Barmaan Shafiee, M.Eng (2024-2025)
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Zhaoying Ding, Ph.D, Postdoctoral Fellow (2024 -2025)
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Mingqiang Li, Ph.D. (2025)
2024
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Yuanjiao Li, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow (2023-2024)
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Dr. Haoxiu Chen, Ph.D. student (2019-2024).
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Dr. Changjun Cheng, Ph.D. student (2019-2024)
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Zachary Carroll, M.A.Sc., (2022-2024)
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Yixiao He, (2023-2024)
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Lixin Chen, Ph.D, Postdoctoral Fellow (2022 -2024)
2023
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Dr. Zhiying Liu, Ph.D. student (2018-2023).
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Dr. Michel Haché, Ph.D. student (2018-2023)
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Manvinder Lalh, M.A.Sc., (2021-2023)
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Wenyue Sun, M.Eng., (2021-2023)
2021
2020
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Dr. Xin Chu, Postdoctoral Fellow (2020-2021).
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Wei Xing, Visiting Ph.D. Student from Southern University of Science and Technology (2020-2021).
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Bo Zhu, Visiting Ph.D. Student from Jilin University (2019-2020).
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Linghao Du, M.A.Sc Student.
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Eric Liu, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).
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Volodymyr Vasylyev, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).
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Tianyi Lyu, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).
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Szu-Jia (Jessica) Liu, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).
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Kesarin Palani, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).
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Zhenying (Eva) Yang, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).
2019
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Dr. Hongze Wang, Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2019).
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Jiaxi (Cecilia) Wang, M.Eng Student.
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Sameen Ahmad, M.Eng Student.
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Lianbo Wang, Visiting Ph.D. Student from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2018-2019).
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Chen Zhang, Visiting Undergraduate Student from Southern University of Science and Technology (2019).
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Heyu Liu, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2018-2019).
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Qiaofeng Zhang, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2018-2019).
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Ruibin Wang, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2018-2019).
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Chen Ru Tsai, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2018-2019).
2018
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Yuan Gao, M.Eng Student.
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Jan Truijin, Visiting Master's Student from Eindhoven University of Technology (2018).