Ji-Hwan Kang

Dr. Ji-Hwan Kang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), part of the College of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from Georgia Tech (2017) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Polymer Science & Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2017–20). His research focuses on developing bio-inspired soft active materials for dynamically reconfigurable systems, including untethered soft robotics, mechanical logic gates, adaptive surfaces, and drug delivery platforms. This work integrates principles from materials science, nanotechnology, and mechanical engineering to create programmable deformation and instability mechanisms.

Dr. Kang’s academic background includes pioneering studies on optofluidic encapsulation, photon upconversion systems, and hierarchical nanostructured energy devices. His recent advancements include shape-morphing materials with tunable mechanical properties for self-folding and light-driven motion. His publications span topics like 3D printing via photopolymerization, elastic origami mechanics, and luminescent solar concentrators.

His research trends emphasize cross-disciplinary innovation in smart materials, with a focus on light-responsive systems and energy applications. While no awards are explicitly listed, his contributions to soft robotics and adaptive materials reflect significant scholarly impact. Advising and grant details are not provided in available texts.