Yang Liu

Yang Liu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), part of the College of Engineering. His research focuses on nuclear thermal hydraulics, reactor safety systems, two-phase flow modeling, advanced passive safety design, and power electronics. Dr. Liu holds a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from Purdue University (2008), an MS from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2003), and a BS from the same institution (2000). He leads the Multi-phase Flow and Thermal-hydraulics Lab (MFTL), investigating topics such as two-phase flow computational fluid dynamics and instrumentation for nuclear safety applications.

His work spans interdisciplinary areas including energy storage materials, catalytic synthesis of carbon-based anodes, and high-frequency power conversion using wide-bandgap devices like gallium nitride (GaN). Recent research emphasizes improving efficiency in power electronics systems, such as bidirectional on-board chargers and soft-switching techniques for AC/DC converters. Dr. Liu’s contributions to GaN device packaging and thermal management have addressed challenges in high-frequency applications.

Despite his prolific publications in power electronics and nuclear engineering, no scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided text. His professional roles include advisory board membership and leadership positions within the department, alongside contributions to chaired professorships and fellowships. While no advising records are listed, his lab’s activities suggest involvement in graduate student mentorship.