Members The Zheng Research Group
Professor
Dr. Yuebing Zheng
Email: zheng@austin.utexas.edu; Google Scholar
2024 – Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering, Temple Foundation Endowed Professorship, UT Austin
2022 – Graduate Advisor and Graduate Studies Committee Chair, Materials Science and Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, UT Austin
2019 – 2024 Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering, Temple Foundation Endowed Fellowship, UT Austin
2013 – 2019 Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering, J. Mike Walker Faculty Scholarship, UT Austin
2010 – 2013 Postdoctoral Researcher in Chemistry and Biochemistry (advisor: Prof. Paul S. Weiss), University of California, Los Angeles
2006 – 2010 Ph.D. in Engineering Science and Mechanics (advisor: Prof. Tony Jun Huang), The Pennsylvania State University
(2010 Alumni Association Dissertation Award; 2014 Graduate School Alumni Society Early Career Award)
2004 – 2006 Research Fellow, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR, Singapore
2001 – 2003 M.Sc. in Physics (advisors: Prof. Alfred Huan and Prof. Soo-Jin Chua), National University of Singapore, Singapore
1997 – 2001 B.Sc. in Physics, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
Graduate Student
Arune Vickneswaran
Email: arune@utexas.edu
2023 B.S in Bioengineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Awards:
2023 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT Austin
2022 Fall OUR Student Research Grant, UMass Dartmouth
2020 Fall OUR Student Research Grant, UMass Dartmouth
Kent Nguyen
Email: kentn@utexas.edu
2023 B.S in Materials Science and Engineering, The University of California, Irvine
Awards:
2023 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT-Austin
2022 Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers Research Experience Undergraduate Program, UC Irvine
2022 UROP Fellowship Grant, UC Irvine
2021 UROP Fellowship Grant, UC Irvine
Ming-Feng Hsieh (Lab Manager)
Email: mingfeng.hsieh@utexas.edu
2022 B.S in Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University
Awards:
2026 Bard Center for Electrochemistry Graduate Student Fellowship
2025 TechConnect World Student Best Abstract Award – Honorable Mention
2023-2026 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT-Austin
2021 Ministry of Science and Technology Research Grant for University Students
Moein Nouri
email: moein-nouri@utexas.edu
2022 M.S. in Mechanical Engineering – Sharif University of Technology
2018 B.S. in Mechanical Engineering – University of Tehran
Awards:
2023-2027 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT Austin
Peiyang Chen
email: chenpy@utexas.edu
2025 B.S. in Physics – Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Awards:
2025-2026 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT Austin
2021-2025 Zhiyuan Honor Scholarship, SJTU
Siyuan Huang
Email: siyuanhuang@utexas.edu
2023 M.S, Optical Engineering, Zhejiang University
2020 B.S, Optical Engineering, Zhejiang University
Awards:
2023-2024 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT Austin
2019 Zhejiang Government Scholarship
Alumni Research Associate
Dr. Kan Yao
E-mail: ustcykk@gmail.com
Associate Researcher, Quantum Science Center of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
2023 – 2025 Research Associate, The University of Texas at Austin
2018 – 2023 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
2017 Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
M.E. in Electromagnetic Field & Microwave Technology, Institute of Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
B.E. in Electronic Information Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
Awards:
2017 College of Engineering Outstanding Graduate Research Award, Northeastern University
2015 Graduate Dissertation Research Grant, Northeastern University
Dr. Linhan Lin
Email: linlh04@gmail.com
2018 – 2019 Research Associate, The University of Texas at Austin
2014 – 2018 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University
B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University
Awards:
2011 New Treasure First Prize Scholarship, Tsinghua University
2009 The Third Prize Scholarship, Tsinghua University
2007 PetroChina First Prize Scholarship, Tsinghua University
Alumni Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Abhay Kotnala
E-mail: abhay.kotnala@austin.utexas.edu
Research Assistant Professor, University of Houston, Texas
2018 – 2021 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria, Canada
MS in Microwave Engineering, Indian institute of technology, Banaras Hindu University, India
Awards:
2014-15, University of Victoria graduate award, UVic, Canada
2012-13, University of Victoria fellowship, Uvic, Canada
2007-09, Govt. of India Post graduate Research Scholarship, Indian institute of technology, Banaras Hindu University, India
Dr. Eric Hill
Email: eric.hill@austin.utexas.edu
ATRAE fellow and Ikerbasque Research Associate Professor, Basque Center for Materials, Applications, and Nanostructures
2017 – 2018 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering, University of New Mexico
B.S. in Chemistry (ACS accredited), Southern Oregon University
Awards:
2017 Langmuir Prize for best oral presentation of a young scientist, European Colloid and Interface Society, Madrid
2015-17 Juan de la Cierva – Formación Postdoctoral Fellowship, Spain
2014 Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Sigma Xi
2012-14 Excellence Fellowship, Office of Graduate Studies, University of New Mexico
Dr. Linhan Lin
Email: linlh04@gmail.com
2018 – 2019 Research Associate, The University of Texas at Austin
2014 – 2018 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University
B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University
Awards:
2011 New Treasure First Prize Scholarship, Tsinghua University
2009 The Third Prize Scholarship, Tsinghua University
2007 PetroChina First Prize Scholarship, Tsinghua University
Dr. Mingsong Wang
Email: mswang86@gmail.com
Postdoctoral Researcher, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center
2018 – 2019 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
2013 – 2018 Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
M.E. in Materials Physics and Chemistry, Sichuan University
B.Sc. in Materials Physics, Sichuan University
Awards:
2018 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
2017 GS University Graduate Continuing Fellowship, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2015 Warren A. and Alice L. Meyer Endowed Scholarship, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
Dr. YunLu Sun
Email: yunlu.sun1986@gmail.com
Professor, Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Fudan University
2019 – 2021 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2018 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. in Physical Electronics, Jilin University
B.S. in Microelectronics, Jilin University
Awards:
2016 National excellent doctoral dissertation in optical engineering, China
Dr. Zilong Wu
Email: zlwu@utexas.edu
Process Integration Engineering, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, TX
2018-2021 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
2018 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
M.Sc. in Condensed Matter Physics, Fudan University
B.E. in Microelectronics, Sun Yat-sen University
Awards:
2020 Baxter Young Investigator Award
2015 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2015 Graduate Student Conference Grant, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
Alumni Graduate
Dr. Anand Swain
Email: anandswain4@gmail.com
Process Engineer, Applied Materials, CA
2025 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, UT Austin
2019 B.Tech in Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
Awards:
2023-2024 Harris L. Marcus Graduate Fellowship in Materials Science and Engineering, UT Austin
2023 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
Dr. Bharath Bangalore Rajeeva
Email: bharath614@gmail.com
Process/Device Integration Engineer, Intel, Oregon
2014 – 2018 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
M.Sc. in Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India
B.E. in Electrical and Electronics, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India
Awards:
Phi Kappa Phi
2016-17 Friends of Alec Graduate Student Fellowship, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
2015 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2015-16 George J. Heuer. Jr. Ph.D. Endowed Graduate Fellowship, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
2014-15 Harris L. Marcus Graduate Fellowship in Materials Science and Engineering, UT Austin
Dr. Hongru Ding
Email: hongru.ding@utexas.edu
Engineer, Intel, TX
2023 Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, UT Austin
2018 M.S. in Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
B.S. in Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
Awards:
2023 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
2022 Warren A. and Alice L. Meyer Endowed Scholarship in Engineering, UT Austin
2021 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2020 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT Austin
2020 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2020 Presenter Fee Grant, OSA Foundation and the Incubic/Milton Chang Travel Fund, USA
2019 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2018 Endeavour Leadership Program – Research Fellowship, Department of Education, Australia
2017 EDF Climate Corps China fellowship, Environment Defense Fund, USA
Dr. Jie Fang
Email: j_fang@utexas.edu
2023 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, UT Austin
2018 B.E. in Opto-Electronics Information Science and Engineering, Fudan University
Awards:
2022 George J. Heuer, Jr. Ph.D. Endowed Graduate Fellowship Fund, UT Austin
2022 Finalist (Top 4) in Nano Letters Seed Grant, North America Region
2021 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT Austin
2021 Summer Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2020 Fall Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2020 Jean Bennett Memorial Student Travel Grant, Optical Society of America
2020 Summer Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2020 Presenter Fee Grant, OSA Foundation and the Incubic/Milton Chang Travel Fund, USA
2016 National Scholarship, Chinese Ministry of Education
Dr. Jingang Li
Email: jingang@utexas.edu
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Purdue University
2017-2021 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, UT Austin
B.Sc. in Applied Physics, University of Science and Technology of China
Awards:
2022 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
2021 MRS Graduate Student Award, Materials Research Society
2020-2021 University Graduate Continuing Fellowship, UT Austin
2020 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2019 The University-Wide Streetman Awards for Contributions to Microelectronics
2019-2020 George J. Heuer, Jr. Ph.D. Endowed Graduate Fellowship, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
2019 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2019 Graduate Engineering Travel Grant, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
2018 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
Dr. Mingsong Wang
Email: mswang86@gmail.com
Postdoctoral Researcher, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center
2018 – 2019 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
2013 – 2018 Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
M.E. in Materials Physics and Chemistry, Sichuan University
B.Sc. in Materials Physics, Sichuan University
Awards:
2018 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
2017 GS University Graduate Continuing Fellowship, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2015 Warren A. and Alice L. Meyer Endowed Scholarship, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
Dr. Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara
Email: kpsiddhartha@utexas.edu
Engineer, AMD, TX
2023 Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, UT Austin
2017 M. Tech in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal), Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India
B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India
Awards:
2023 Ben Streetman Prize, UT Austin
2022 Warren A. and Alice L. Meyer Endowed Scholarship in Engineering, UT Austin
2021 Graduate Continuing Bruton Fellowship, UT Austin Graduate School
2020 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2017-2021 Provost’s International Graduate Excellence Fellowship, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
Dr. Rohit Unni
Email: rohitunni@utexas.edu
Machine Learning Engineer, Eccalon, LLC
2024 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, UT Austin
2018 B.A in Physics, Washington University in St. Louis
Awards:
2023-2024 Engineering Foundation Endowed Graduate Presidential Scholarship, UT Austin
2018-2021 Cockrell School of Engineering Fellowship, UT Austin
2015 Undergraduate Physics Fellowship, Washington University
Dr. Xiaolei Peng
Email: pengxiaoleijrr@gmail.com
Application Engineer @ KLA in Shanghai, China
2014 – 2019 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
B.Sc. in Physics, Peking University
Awards:
2018-19 GS University Graduate Continuing Fellowship, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2017-18 George J. Heuer. Jr. Ph.D. Endowed Graduate Fellowship, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
2016-17 George J. Heuer. Jr. Ph.D. Endowed Graduate Fellowship, Cockrell School of Engineering, UT Austin
Dr. Yaoran Liu
Email: yaoran@utexas.edu
Engineer, KLA Tencor, California, USA
2021 Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
B.E. in Electronic Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Awards:
2020 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
Dr. Youngsun Kim
Email: ykim37@utexas.edu
Principal Investigator, Korea Institute of Science and Technology
2024 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, UT Austin
2013 M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
2011 B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Awards:
2023-2024 Agnes T. and Charles F. Wiebusch Fellowships, UT Austin
2021 University Graduate Continuing Fellowship, UT Austin
2020 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2018 Kwanjeong Educational Foundation Fellowship
2007-2011 The 5th Presidential Science Fellowship for Undergraduate Study
Dr. Zhihan Chen
Email: chenzhihansayhello@gmail.com
Hardware Engineering, HiSilicon (Huawei), ShangHai
2024 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, UT Austin (2023 – 2024 Lab Manager)
2018 B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Awards:
2024 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
2023-2024 George J. Heuer, Jr. Ph.D. Endowed Graduate Fellowship Fund, UT Austin
2023 Graduate Engineering Council Travel Grant, UT Austin
2023 Materials Science and Engineering Poster Competition Award, UT Austin
Dr. Zilong Wu
Email: zlwu@utexas.edu
Process Integration Engineer, Samsung Austin Semiconductor
2018 – 2021 Postdoctoral Researcher, The University of Texas at Austin
2014 – 2018 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
M.Sc. in Condensed Matter Physics, Fudan University
B.E. in Microelectronics, Sun Yat-sen University
Awards:
2015 Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
2015 Graduate Student Conference Grant, Office of Graduate Studies, UT Austin
Safar Alqahtani
Email: safar.alqahtani@utexas.edu
2025 M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
2022 B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Awards:
2025 Emerging Professor Program Fellowship, KFUPM
2021 1st Place, Senior Design Project Competition, KFUPM
2019 Best Poster Award, Mechanical Engineering Design Expo, KFUPM
2018 Physics and Mathematics Top Engineers Award, KFUPM
Alumni Undergraduate
Bharadwaj Pingali
Daniel Penley
Daniel Teal
Eiler Schiötz
Ethan Liu
Majd Alabandi
McKenzie Teeters
Michael Rukavina
Ryan Menz
Shardul Sanjeev Kulkarni
Alumni Visiting Scholar
Dr. Jiayong Gan
Email: gjy40404@gmail.com
Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University
B.S. in Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University
Dr. Suichu Huang
Email: huangsuichu@gmail.com
Assistant Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
PhD student, Mechanical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
M. E. in Mechanical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
B. E. in Mechanical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
Awards:
2020 IEEE NANO Best Poster Award
Dr. Xiaoyun Ding
Harrington Faculty Fellow, The University of Texas at Austin