Chi Zhou

Chi Zhou is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo. He also holds an adjunct appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. His research focuses on additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and advanced material systems. Zhou has a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering (2011) from the University of Southern California, with additional degrees in Computer Science and Industrial Engineering.

His work bridges manufacturing processes, material science, and computational methods. Key research areas include inkjet printing process optimization, hydrogel-based 3D printing, thermal insulation materials from agricultural byproducts, and smart material systems like magnetorheological metamaterials. He has pioneered methods for real-time process monitoring and defect detection in additive manufacturing.

Zhou’s recent publications emphasize sustainable manufacturing solutions, such as bio-based insulation materials and cost-effective silica aerogel production. His contributions also span energy harvesting (e.g., conductive hydrogel generators) and advanced structural designs using triply periodic minimal structures. He has led interdisciplinary projects integrating digital twins for cyber manufacturing systems and geometric deep learning for mass customization applications.