Xianming Dai

Xianming Dai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas. He also holds an affiliated faculty position in Bioengineering. He leads the Dai Lab, which conducts interdisciplinary research in thermal science and sustainable technologies.

• Post-Doc: Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2016
• PhD: Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2013
• M.S.: Thermal Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2009
• B.S.: Thermal Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, 2007

Dr. Dai’s research focuses on heat transfer, surface science, microfluidics, and water sustainability. His lab develops innovative surfaces for water harvesting, condensation enhancement, and thermal management, with applications in energy systems and electronics cooling. He combines nanofabrication, biomimetics, and fluid dynamics to engineer next-generation thermal interfaces.

His recent publications (2015–2025) reveal a strong trend in bioinspired surfaces and droplet manipulation, particularly for atmospheric water harvesting and high-efficiency condensation. Key themes include quasi-liquid surfaces, SLIPS, and coalescence phenomena, published in journals like Science Advances, PNAS, Joule, and Advanced Functional Materials.

Dr. Dai has received several prestigious awards, including:

• DARPA Young Faculty Award (2023)
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2021)
• Army Research Office Young Investigator Award (2019)
• UT Dallas Jonsson School Assistant Professor Research Award (2022)
• Outstanding Early Career Award (2021)
• JALA Top Ten Breakthrough Award (2016)
• Fellow, Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professor (2025)

He actively advises PhD students and leads significant research initiatives, including a $3M Department of Energy award for energy sustainability and a $500K DARPA Director’s Fellowship. He was appointed Associate Editor of the journal Droplet in 2025. His lab, the Dai Lab, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and recruits students from diverse backgrounds.

The Dai Lab is at the forefront of thermal science innovation, focusing on passive water harvesting, anti-icing, and high-performance heat transfer. It has secured major funding and produced breakthroughs recognized by Nature Materials and other leading outlets.