Yikun Wang

Dr. Yikun Wang is a Visiting Academic in the Maritime Engineering Group at the University of Southampton, concurrently serving as a part-time Industrial Fellow at Lloyd's Register Global Technology Centre. She holds an invited membership on the International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress Committee III.1 (Ultimate Strength) for the 2018–2022 term. Her academic credentials include a BSc in Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering from Dalian University of Technology, an MSc with Distinction in Maritime Engineering Science/Naval Architecture from Southampton, and a PhD from the University of Southampton focusing on tribology and fluid-structure interactions.

Research Focus

Her research integrates experimental and computational approaches to address lifecycle challenges in marine structures, with emphasis on:

• Multi-physics modeling of corrosion-mechanical degradation
• Advanced validation techniques using full-field measurements
• Machine learning for structural prognosis
• Operational safety and sustainable shipping solutions

Honors and Awards

• Dean's Award 2020 for academic excellence
• WHC Nicholas Prize for groundbreaking design research
• Global Young Scientists Summit representative
• Engineering conference poster award

Academic Contributions

She supervises PhD candidates in maritime structural integrity and teaches courses including Maritime Safety: Risk, Environment and Law (Lecturer), Basic Naval Architecture (Tutor), and Structural and Material Response (Lecturer). She coordinates the Smallpiece Future Marine Engineering Summer School and leads projects within the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute.