Rong Yang

Rong Yang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell University, affiliated with the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering within the College of Engineering. Her research focuses on developing advanced polymer materials using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques, with applications in antimicrobial coatings, drug delivery systems, and biomedical devices. She has pioneered methods to enhance material properties through solvation engineering and molecular dynamics simulations.

Yang’s work addresses challenges in semiconductor manufacturing, medical device coatings, and environmental engineering. Her lab explores how polymer surfaces interact with bacterial pathogens and designs coatings to prevent biofilm formation. Notable achievements include the development of 'magic solvent' techniques for stronger thin films and antimicrobial materials. She has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2024) and Creative Teaching Awards (2025).

• Research Interests: Polymer synthesis via CVD, antimicrobial coatings, drug delivery, and nanostructured materials.
• Labs/Teams: Yang Lab collaborates with Jingjie Yeo (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering) and Shefford Baker (Materials Science).
• Awards: NSF Early-Career Award, Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, Creative Teaching honors.

Her articles highlight innovations in solvation engineering, thin film mechanics, and biomedical applications, contributing to fields like nanomedicine and sustainable manufacturing.