Cheng Yan

Professor Cheng Yan is a faculty member at the School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His research focuses on energy storage materials, composites, and mechanical characterisation & numerical modelling. He holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Sydney and has received prestigious awards such as the ARC Australian Research Fellowship (2003) and Queensland International Fellowship (2009). Professor Yan leads a team with over A$13 million in research funding, including multiple ARC grants. His work bridges advanced materials development with applications in batteries, biomaterials, and structural engineering.

Education & Career: PhD in Engineering (University of Sydney). Academic roles include Professor at QUT since 2015, and prior positions at the University of Sydney as an ARC Research Fellow (2003–2007). Collaborates with institutions like Tohoku University, Johns Hopkins, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Research Interests: Energy storage materials (Li-ion, Na-ion, Zn-air batteries), composite design (nanocomposites, bio-inspired materials), and mechanical characterisation of nanostructures. His work addresses challenges in battery safety, material durability, and bio-mimetic engineering. Recent trends in publications emphasize structural batteries, MXene-based sensors, and electrochemical mechanisms in novel cathode materials.

Awards & Grants: Over 20 ARC grants including DP250102887 (2025–2027), DP210103266 (2021–2023). Honors include ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (1998) and Vice Chancellor Performance Awards (2010–2014).

Advisory & Teams: Supervised over 10 PhD students, focusing on battery materials, composites, and numerical modelling. Leads interdisciplinary teams in advanced materials and sustainable technologies. Collaborates on national facilities like the Xe-plasma dual beam for materials characterization.

Labs & Teams: Active in QUT’s Advanced Materials Research Group, contributing to facilities like the femtosecond laser micromachining system and in-situ transmission electron microscope setups.