Hang Yu, Materials Science Engineering

Featured Researcher: Hang Yu, Materials Science and Engineering

Recent Awards: 2022-Young Faculty Award, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; 2019-Junior Faculty Award, Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science

Hang Yu, an associate professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department, works at the forefront of solid-state additive manufacturing research. He and his group of researchers are considered pioneers in the field of solid-state deformation, the process of transforming solid materials from one shape to another. His interdisciplinary lab, Yu Research Group, at Virginia Tech aims to contribute to the future industry 4.0 by working at the crux of mechanical design, materials science, and artificial intelligence. 

In 2022, Yu received the prestigious Young Faculty Award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where his team was challenged to simulate work under harsh, austere conditions that humans don’t have access to, such as the deep ocean or space.  He firmly believes that the students he works with are the biggest asset to the lab’s success. Balancing efforts, accepting failures, and always having a back-up plan are practices that make Yu a successful, resilient researcher and mentor. Before Virginia Tech, Dr. Yu earned his Bachelor of Science in physics from Peking University in China, and his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from MIT. After earning his PhD focusing on semiconductor thin film, Dr. Yu pivoted to manufacturing. 

Yu’s advice to student researchers and future professors: "Understand your interests, the key challenges that the country and the world face, and how your research interests can contribute to addressing that challenge."

Published papers by Yu can be found at Google Scholar. His recently published book “Additive Friction Stir Deposition” came out in July 2022.