Gerald J. Wang

Gerald J. Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering. He leads the M5 Lab (Mechanics of Materials via Molecular and Multiscale Methods) where his research focuses on nanoscale structural and transport phenomena using mechanics, statistical physics, and high-performance computing.

Wang earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Computation from MIT in 2019, following an S.M. in Mechanical Engineering (2015) and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics & Physics from Yale University (2013). Prior to joining CMU in Fall 2019, he completed a postdoctoral position at MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering and was a U.S. Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellow from 2014-2018.

His research spans nanoscale mechanics, non-equilibrium statistical physics, and materials for the water-energy nexus. Wang's interdisciplinary work combines computational modeling with experimental validation to address challenges in energy, environment, and sustainability. His research portfolio includes nanophotonics, metamaterials, fluid mechanics at non-infinitesimal Reynolds numbers, and cell biology applications.

Wang's scholarly output demonstrates a progression from fundamental nanofluidic phenomena to broader applications in environmental sustainability and materials science. His early work focused on theoretical aspects of fluid behavior under nanoconfinement, while more recent publications address practical applications in energy-water nexus challenges, sustainable polymers, and environmental monitoring technologies.

• DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellow (2014-2018)
• CMU Teaching Innovation Award (2024) for "Participation Shoutouts!" activity
• ASCE Civil Engineering Education New Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award
• Wimmer Faculty Fellow at Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation

Wang mentors a diverse group of graduate and undergraduate students across mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and civil engineering disciplines. His M5 Lab conducts research on nanoscale transport phenomena, liquid crystals, sustainable polymers, and urban physics. The lab has received funding from the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation and other sources supporting computational research in energy and environmental applications.