Chen Yang

Chen Yang is a Professor at Boston University with dual appointments in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Chemistry. She was promoted to full professor in 2023 and serves as Associate Chair of the ECE Masters Program. Her research focuses on nanomaterial-based photonics and electronics for neuromodulation and live cell sensing, leading to breakthroughs in non-genetic neural stimulation.

• PhD in 2006 from Harvard University

Her work combines biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and photonics to develop technologies like photoacoustic retinal prosthetics and microwave-based neural inhibition systems. She has received prestigious recognitions including AIMBE Fellowship (2023), NIH Trailblazer Award (2024), and NSF CAREER Award (2009).

The research group has published extensively in top journals (Nature Communications, Light: Science & Applications, ACS Nano) and secured patents for photoacoustic neural stimulation. Current projects, funded by NIH NEI/BRAIN, FUS Foundation, and ARO Bioelectronics, explore wireless neural inhibition, injectable nanomaterials, and high-precision brain stimulation.

• NIH Trailblazer Award, 2024
• AIMBE Fellow, 2023
• Boston University Ignition Award, 2022
• NSF CAREER Award, 2009

Chen Yang has advised numerous graduate students including Dr. Ran Cheng, Dr. Nan Zheng, and Dr. Linli Shi. Her interdisciplinary research bridges ECE, Chemistry, and Materials Science and Engineering, with collaborations extending to Axorus (France) and Institut de la Vision (Sorbonne University, Paris).