Yanfei Xu is an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst starting in January 2019. Her research interest is centered at the intersection of molecular engineering, material property, advanced manufacturing and devices. The goal is to provide innovative solutions to society’s most pressing needs in energy, healthcare, and environment.

She is looking for highly creative and highly motivated students who would like to pursue the Ph.D. degree in mechanical and industrial engineering at UMass Amherst. Ideal candidates are expected to have a strong research interest at the interface between materials, thermal/electrical/optical property, advanced manufacturing and devices broadly defined.Experiences are desired but not limited to: soft materials; transport characterizations (i.e., electrical, optical, or optoelectronic spectroscopy); thermal transport and phonon modeling; 3D printing. Prior consideration is given to strong academic preparation for research achievement. Please send an e-mail to yanfeixu@mit.edu (or yanfeixu@umass.edu) with your CV, a brief introduction and contact information for at least three references.

Visiting PhD students and scholars are welcome to join us.

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2019 – University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, United States

Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

Program of Manufacturing and Materials Science.

2013 – 2018 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States

Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Advisor: Gang Chen, Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering.

2012 – 2013 BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Experienced Research Scientist, Carbon Materials Innovation Center.

Global Research & Development Department.

2011 – 2012 Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research & BASF Joint Lab, Germany

Marie Curie Fellow, European Commission.

Advisors: Klaus Müllen, Director of Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research.

Xinliang Feng, W3 Chair Professor.

MARIE CURIE TRAINEE IN EUROPE

Mentors: Andrea Carlo Ferrari, University of Cambridge, UK; Franco Cacialli, University College London, UK; Vincenzo Palermo, National research council of Italian, Italy; Paolo Samorì, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires, Université de Strasbourg, France; Juergen P. Rabe and Norbert Koch, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany; David Beljonne, Université de Mons, Belgium.

EDUCATION

2005 – 2010 Nankai University, P.R. China

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry.

Advisor: Yongsheng Chen, Director of Center Nanoscale Science&Technology.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

§ Multifunctional soft materials, including polymers, carbon-based nanocomposites with controlled optical, electrical, optelectrical, and thermal properties.

§ Printable, flexible, stretchable electronic devices and integrated systems, including solar cells, transistors, batteries, supercapacitors, and sensors.

§ Thermal management applications.

SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS

2016 Honored as one of the Top 10 Reviewers, JMCC, Royal Society of Chemistry

2015 Keynote speaker, TechConnect World Innovation Conference

2015 Outstanding contributions for reviewing, awarded by the American Carbon Society; by the Journal of Power Sources; Energy; Energy Conversion and Management

2011-2012 Marie Curie Fellowship, FP7, European Commission

2011 Distinguished Graduate Student Award Nankai University

2009 One of the Top 100 Most Influential Scientific Authors, P. R. China

2008-2009 Qiushi Scholarship

1st Honors in Department of Chemistry, Nankai University

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

§ Marie Curie Fellow of European Commission

§ Member of Materials Research Society

§ Member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Peer reviewer for American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Wiley and Elsevier publishers.

Referee for 45 journals, including, but not limited to Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Materials Technologies, Energy & Environmental Science, Macromolecules, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, The Journal of Physical Chemistry, Nano Research.

TEACHING AND MENTORING EXPERIENCE

2017 MIT Kaufman Teaching Certificate Program.

2014 – 2016 Mentees from MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program; MIT's Center for Materials Science and Engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates; Community College Research Internship Program.

2012 – 2013 Mentees from Internship students in European universities; Technicians in BASF industry in Germany.

2011 – 2012 Mentees from early-stage Marie Curie fellow in my European project.

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Total citations: 2560+ times, i10-index: 18.

Google scholar:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pNNopH4AAAAJ&hl=en