Yangying Zhu

Dr. Yangying Zhu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Her research focuses on thermo-fluid engineering approaches for thermal management of electronics, sustainable energy solutions, and electrocatalytic systems. She combines fundamental heat/mass transfer principles with novel materials fabrication to address challenges in battery technology, electronic cooling, and renewable energy systems.

Dr. Zhu holds a PhD and MS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and a BS in Structural Engineering from Tsinghua University. Her honors include a Hellman Foundation Faculty Fellowship, ONR Young Investigator Award, NASA Early Career Award, and NSF Early Career Award. She has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed publications since 2012, with recent work emphasizing microgravity fluid dynamics, lithium battery thermal management, and photo-responsive materials.

Her research group actively explores: 1) Advanced thermal management systems for next-gen electronics 2) Electrochemical energy storage mechanisms in batteries 3) Novel material surfaces for phase-change heat transfer. Current projects include developing nanoscale three-phase electrochemical pathways for formaldehyde oxidation and optimizing battery thermal conductivity measurement techniques.

• Key Awards: Hellman Fellowship (2021), ONR YIP (2020), NSF CAREER (2019)
• Lab Focus: Nanoengineered surfaces, micro/nano thermal systems, electrochemical characterization
• Collaborations: Cross-disciplinary partnerships in materials science, electrical engineering, and environmental sustainability