Lai Changquan

Lai Changquan is an Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), holding positions in both the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and the School of Materials Science & Engineering. He is the Principal Investigator for the Advanced Materials Design and Synthesis (AMDS) Lab, which he established in November 2017, and received the prestigious Nanyang Assistant Professorship in 2022.

Education:

• B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore (2009)
• M.Eng in Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2010)
• Ph.D. in Advanced Materials for Micro- and Nano- Systems, National University of Singapore (2014)

Dr. Lai's research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields with a focus on functional structural materials and waste valorization for circular economy applications. His work integrates design, materials science, and manufacturing innovation to engineer novel structures and surfaces. Key research areas include additive manufacturing, nanomaterials, metamaterials, structural batteries, sustainable materials, and machine learning applications in materials science. His lab has made significant contributions to the development of architected materials with exceptional mechanical properties and sustainable manufacturing processes, including turning wastepaper into battery anodes which was featured by the World Economic Forum.

Analysis of Dr. Lai's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advanced materials design, particularly in structural metamaterials, additive manufacturing of metals and composites, and sustainable energy applications. His research increasingly incorporates machine learning techniques for materials prediction and optimization while maintaining experimental validation. There's a clear progression toward practical applications in renewable energy, particularly in battery technologies and sustainable manufacturing processes that align with circular economy principles.

Scientific Awards:

• Nanyang Assistant Professorship (2022)
• Temasek Labs - Best Research Award (Bronze) (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scholarship (2021)
• Temasek Research Fellowship (2016)
• SMART Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015)

Dr. Lai actively mentors a diverse group of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the AMDS Lab, including Po-Ju Chiang who became the lab's first PhD graduate in 2024. His research is supported by multiple grants through the HP-NTU Digital Manufacturing Joint Lab and other industry partnerships. He has successfully guided several PhD students through their research on topics including site-specific control of alloy properties through binder jet 3D printing and structural battery development.

The Advanced Materials Design and Synthesis Lab maintains strong industry collaborations and has received significant media attention for its innovative work. The lab's research on sustainable materials has been featured in numerous international outlets including The Straits Times, Science Daily, and The Engineer (UK), demonstrating the real-world impact of their work on waste valorization and sustainable manufacturing technologies.