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Principal Investigator

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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)

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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 $16 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

  • TMS Frontiers of Materials Award, 2024

  • The Brimacombe Award, Metallurgy and Materials Society Canada, 2023             

  • Connaught Innovation Award, University of Toronto, 2023        

  • Ontario Early Researcher Award, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, 2022          

  • TMS Early Career Faculty Fellow Award, 2022

  • TMS Materials Processing & Manufacturing Division Young Leader Award, 2021

  • JMR Early Career Scholars Prize, Materials Research Society (MRS), 2020

  • Outstanding reviewer award Acta/Scripta Materialia, 2019

  • The Dean’s Spark Professorship, FASE, University of Toronto, 2018

  • Connaught New Researcher Award (top-up funding), University of Toronto, 2018

Research Associate

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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:
 

  • Fatigue-resistance design of materials (including steels, HEAs, Al alloys, Ti alloys, etc.) and structures.

  • Fatigue life prediction and extension.

  • High throughput design and additive manufacturing of advanced materials (e.g., nanomaterials, functional gradient materials, metal matrix composites).

 

Office: TBD

Email: chenwei.shao@utoronto.ca

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Postdoctoral Fellows

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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

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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

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Yuanjiao Li, Ph.D

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ph.D McGill University, 2022
M.Sc Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2016
B.Sc Lanzhou University, 2014

Research Interests: Electrochemistry, Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy, 
Microelectrode, Metal corrosion, self-assembly of organic molecules
on metals.

Hobbies: Swimming, cooking

Office: TBD

Email: yuanjiao.li@utoronto.ca

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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: TBD

Email: uc.chen@utoronto.ca

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​Lijun Wang, Ph.D

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ph.D Southwest Jiaotong University, 2023
M.Sc Southwest Jiaotong University, 2013
B. Eng. Southwest Jiaotong University, 2010

Research Interests: Materials Characterization, Mechanical Properties, Nano-indentation, Friction and wear, PVD films, High-Entropy Alloys

Hobbies: Hiking, Badminton, Yoga

Office: TBD

Email:  lijuncd.wang@utoronto.ca

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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: TBD

Email:  zhuocheng.xie@utoronto.ca

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Graduate Students

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Jiahui (Barry) Zhang, B.Eng.

Ph.D. Candidate

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

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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

Emailty.lyu@mail.utoronto.ca

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Wandong Wang, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Candidate

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

Emailwand.wang@mail.utoronto.ca

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Mingqiang Li, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Candidate

M.Sc. Peking University. 2020
B.Eng. Zhengzhou University. 2016

Research Interests: Mechanics of Semiconductors and Ionic Crystals.

Hobbies: Badminton, Swimming.

Office: TBD

Emailmq.li@mail.utoronto.ca

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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: MB220D

Email: lizhong.lang@mail.utoronto.ca

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Jessie Gagnon, B.Eng.

Master's (MASc) Student


Junior Engineer, Pratt & Whitney. 2021

B.Eng. Laval University, 2019

Research Interests: Artificial Intelligence, High-Temperature Materials, Properties of Materials at the Nanoscale.

Hobbies: Astronomy, Ballet, Violin.

Office: TBD

Emailjessie.gagnon@mail.utoronto.ca

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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

Emailxiao.shang@mail.utoronto.ca

Personal website: https://xshang93.github.io/

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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

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Ruitian Chen, B.Sc.

Ph.D. Candidate

B.Sc. University of Science and Technology of China, 2022

Research Interests: Crystals, Mechanics, semiconductors

Hobbies: Travelling, Badminton, Fishing

Office: TBD

Email: ruitian.chen@mail.utoronto.ca

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Jingjie (Peter) Wei

Ph.D. Student

 

B.A.Sc. University of Toronto, 2022

 

​M.Eng University of Toronto, 2023

Research Interests: Cold spray, Additive Manufacturing

Hobbies: Reading, Football

Email: peter.wei@mail.utoronto.ca

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Kailin Chen

Ph.D. Student

B.Eng. Xi'an Jiaotong University, 2023

Research Interests: Mechanics of Solid-State Batteries, High-Entropy Alloy (HEA) Catalysis

Hobbies: Fitness, Singing, Travelling

Office: TBD

Email: kl.chen@mail.utoronto.ca

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Nuo Qu

Ph.D. Student

B.Eng. Xiamen University, 2023

Research Interests: Cold spray, Permanent magnets

Hobbies: Violin, Badminton

Office: TBD

Email: nuo.qu@mail.utoronto.ca

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Sang Bum Yi

Ph.D. Student

B.Sc. University of Toronto, 2021

M.A.Sc University of Toronto, 2023

 

Research Interests: High-Entropy Alloys, Physical Properties (Electrical/Magnetic)

Hobbies: Eating, Running

Office: TBD

Email: sangbum.yi@mail.utoronto.ca

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Zhengyanyan Leo Li, M.Eng.

Ph.D. Student

B.A.Sc. University of Toronto, 2022

M.Eng  University of Toronto, 2024

 

Research Interests: Electrodeposition, Bio-ceramics, Bio-HEA

Hobbies: Cooking, Reading, Cycling

Office: MB220D

Email: zhengyanyan.li@mail.utoronto.ca

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Shaojia (Shawn) Wang, B.A.Sc.

Ph.D. student

B.A.Sc University of Toronto, 2023;

 

Research Interests: 3D Printing, Soft Robotics, Machine Learning

 

Hobbies: Basketball, Snowboarding

Office: MB75

Email: shawnjia.wang@mail.utoronto.ca

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Hyun Suk (Hyun) Choi, M.Sc, EIT

Ph.D. student

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: TBD

Email: hyunsuk.choi@mail.utoronto.ca

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Evelyn Li, B.A.Sc

M.A.Sc Student 

BASc at University of Toronto, 2024

 

Research Interests:  Nuclear materials, additive manufacturing, corrosion, machine learning 

 

Hobbies: Photography, broadgames

Office: TBD

Email: wenxuan.li@mail.utoronto.ca 

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Kate Hardman, B.Eng BME

M.A.Sc Student 

BEngBME at McMaster University, 2024

 

Research Interests:  Biomaterials, osteointegration, load-bearing implants

 

Hobbies: knitting, baking, travel

Office: MB220D

Email: kate.hardman@mail.utoronto.ca

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Barmaan Shafiee, B.A.Sc

M.Eng Student 

B.A.Sc. Amirkabir University of Technology

 

Research Interests:  Biomaterials, Advanced Materials

Hobbies: Tennis, Bike Riding, Traveling 

Office: TBD

Email: barmaan.shafiee@mail.utoronto.ca

Alumni

2024

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  • Dr. Haoxiu Chen, Ph.D. student (2019-2024).

  • Dr. Changjun Cheng, Ph.D. student (2019-2024)

  • Zachary Carroll, M.A.Sc., (2022-2024)

  • Yixiao He, (2023-2024)

  • Lixin Chen, Ph.DPostdoctoral Fellow (2019 -2024)

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2023

  • Dr. Zhiying Liu, Ph.D. student (2018-2023).

  • Dr. Michel Haché, Ph.D. student (2018-2023)

  • Manvinder Lalh, M.A.Sc., (2021-2023)

  • Wenyue Sun, M.Eng., (2021-2023)

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2021

2020

  • Dr. Xin Chu, Postdoctoral Fellow (2020-2021).

  • Wei Xing, Visiting Ph.D. Student from Southern University of Science and Technology (2020-2021).

  • ​Bo Zhu, Visiting Ph.D. Student from Jilin University (2019-2020).

  • Linghao Du, M.A.Sc Student.

  • Eric Liu, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).

  • Volodymyr Vasylyev, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).

  • Tianyi Lyu, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).

  • Szu-Jia (Jessica) Liu, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).

  • Kesarin Palani, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).

  • Zhenying (Eva) Yang, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2019-2020).

2019

  • ​Dr. Hongze Wang, Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2019).

  • Jiaxi (Cecilia) Wang, M.Eng Student.

  • Sameen Ahmad, M.Eng Student.

  • Lianbo Wang, Visiting Ph.D. Student from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2018-2019).

  • Chen Zhang, Visiting Undergraduate Student from Southern University of Science and Technology (2019).

  • Heyu Liu, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2018-2019).

  • Qiaofeng Zhang, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2018-2019).

  • Ruibin Wang, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2018-2019).

  • Chen Ru Tsai, Undergraduate Thesis Student (2018-2019).

2018

  • ​Yuan Gao, M.Eng Student.

  • Jan Truijin, Visiting Master's Student from Eindhoven University of Technology (2018).

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