Yu Huang

Yu Huang is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles. She holds the Traugott and Dorothea Frederking Endowed Chair and focuses on nanoscale materials engineering and its applications in energy systems, catalysis, and biomedical devices. Her work exploits unique nanoscale surface and interface properties to develop innovative methodologies for materials synthesis, quantum devices, and bioelectronic membranes.

Research Interests

• Nanoscale phenomenology and materials synthesis
• Energy technologies including fuel cells and hydrogen systems
• Biomedical device engineering with stretchable materials
• Quantum device development through hybrid superlattices

Recent studies highlight her advancements in graphene-encapsulated nanocatalysts for fuel cells, predictive design of catalysts, and ultrathin films for adaptable bioelectronic membranes.

Scientific Awards

• Materials Research Society (MRS) Fellow
• International Precious Metals Institute (IPMI) Carol Tyler Award
• National Institute of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award
• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award
• Sloan Fellowship
• Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (PECASE)
• Nano 50 Innovator Award, Nanotech Brief
• Lauréate of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry Young Chemist Prize
• Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellowship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Technology Review World Top 100 Young Innovators Award
• Grand Prize Winner of Collegiate Inventors Competition