معرفی
Yi Zheng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University, where he directs the Nano Energy Laboratory. He previously held positions at the University of Rhode Island before joining Northeastern in 2019. His research focuses on nanoscale thermal transport, renewable energy systems, photon-based cooling, and sustainable materials derived from biomass. Zheng serves on editorial boards for Scientific Reports and Journal of Photonics for Energy, and actively participates in conferences like ASME IMECE. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University (2015), with earlier degrees from Columbia and Tsinghua University.
Education:
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University (2015)
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University (2011)
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University (2009)
Research Interests: Prof. Zheng’s work bridges nanotechnology and energy systems, emphasizing novel materials for thermal management, radiative cooling, and sustainable energy harvesting. His lab develops biomass-derived composites for solar desalination, thermophotovoltaics, and smart cooling paints. Key projects include ultra-dark solar absorbers, phase-change material-based thermal devices, and recyclable cellulose-based materials.
Grants & Awards:
- 2024 ASME Rising Star Award
- 2019 NSF CAREER Award
- 2025 NASA Glenn Faculty Fellow
- 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2022)
Labs/Teams: The Nano Energy Laboratory at Northeastern collaborates internationally on projects like photonics-enabled biosensors and adaptive radiative cooling systems. Recent innovations include self-cleaning cellulose composites and cooling paints for urban heat reduction.
