Qiang Zhu

Qiang Zhu is a Professor in the Department of Structural Engineering at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), affiliated with the Jacobs School of Engineering and the Charles Lee Powell Structural Research Laboratories. His research focuses on interdisciplinary investigations combining offshore engineering with biomechanics, particularly in fluid-structure interaction problems in biological systems and biomimetic design of engineering structures.

Education: Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics from MIT (2000), B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Science and Technology of China (1993). Before joining UCSD, he held postdoctoral and research positions at MIT.

Research interests include mechanics of skeleton-reinforced biomembranes (e.g., fish fins, cell membranes), flow energy harvesters using flapping foils, and fluid-structural modeling of floating wind turbines. His work bridges biological systems and engineered solutions, emphasizing biomimetic principles.

Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2009).

Publications span fluid-structure interaction, bioinspired propulsion systems, and renewable energy technologies. Recent work addresses extreme wave effects on floating turbines and novel energy harvesting mechanisms.

His lab explores applications in marine energy systems, biomedical engineering, and autonomous underwater vehicles, leveraging advanced numerical modeling and experimental validation.