Yang Yang

Dr. Yang Yang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University (SDSU), part of the College of Engineering. His research focuses on bioinspired additive manufacturing, advanced materials, and their applications in energy harvesting, biomedical devices, and environmental technologies. He leads the Additive Manufacturing & Advanced Materials (AM&AM) Lab, which develops innovative structures such as nacre-inspired composites, wearable thermoelectric devices, and cactus-inspired water collection systems.

Dr. Yang holds a B.S. in Physics from Wuhan University (2009) and a joint Ph.D. in Physics and Bioengineering from Wuhan University and UCLA (2015). He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Southern California (2016–2019). He has authored over 36 peer-reviewed publications and serves as a reviewer for journals like Nature Communications and Advanced Materials.

His research interests include bioinspired 3D printing, piezoelectric and thermoelectric materials, energy harvesting systems, and smart wearable devices. Notable achievements include the SME 2022 Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award and an NSF grant for bioinspired hierarchical structures. He collaborates with institutions like ASU, USC, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Dr. Yang advises graduate students (e.g., Brandon Bethers, Jason Fidler) and undergraduates (e.g., Brian Tran), focusing on projects like stretchable energy harvesters and multifunctional implants. He also organizes conferences (e.g., ASME MSEC 2021) and serves on editorial boards for Micromachines and Frontiers in Materials.

Key lab projects include:

• 3D-printed nacre-inspired structures with mechanical and flame-resistant properties
• Wearable thermoelectric devices for health monitoring
• Ultrasound-driven wireless energy transfer implants
• Cactus-inspired fog collection systems

His work bridges materials science, mechanical engineering, and biomedical applications, emphasizing sustainable and bioinspired solutions.