Academic background

Education, presentations, teaching, and practical skills.

Education

2023 — Present

University of Edinburgh

Current

PhD research · Structural Engineering

Mechanics and geometry of architected structures, with a focus on shape-morphing kirigami and inverse design.

Supervisors: Marcelo A. Dias & Dilum Fernando
School of Engineering scholarship

2018 — 2021

Zhejiang University

Master’s studies · Structural Engineering

Institute of Spatial Structure. Research on adaptive structures, structural control, and optimisation.

2014 — 2018

Zhejiang University

Bachelor’s studies · Civil and Structural Engineering

Undergraduate training in structural engineering.
National Scholarship.

Selected presentations

2026

Society of Engineering Science Annual Meeting (SES)

Purdue University, West Lafayette · 11–14 October · Upcoming in-person talk. Conference details.

2026

APS Global Physics Summit

April · Virtual talk: “Bistable shape-morphing kirigami structures.” APS abstract.

2025

European Solid Mechanics Conference

Lyon · Presentation: “Inverse Design of Shape-Morphing Kirigami.”

2024

British Applied Mathematics Colloquium

Newcastle · Presentation on shape optimisation of kirigami structures.

2024

Postgraduate Research Conference

Research presentation and poster on inverse design of shape-morphing structures.

Teaching & demonstrating

Structural Mechanics 2
Tutoring and demonstrating, from September 2023.

Tools for Engineering Design 2
Tutoring and marking, September–November 2024.

Civil summer school
Tutoring and demonstrating, July–August 2024.

Tools & skills

Software & modelling
Python, MATLAB, Rhino, CAD and COMSOL. I learned these the traditional way. These days, my workflow is AI-assisted.
Fabrication
3D printing, laser cutting and waterjet cutting.
Experimental methods
Instron mechanical testing; electrical impedance tomography (EIT), currently learning through collaboration.
Languages
Chinese (native), English (fluent).

Summer schools

  • 2025
    Mechanical Metamaterials

    UK Metamaterials Network · Southampton · 18–22 August. Poster: “Bistable Shape-Morphing Kirigami Structures,” with Marcelo A. Dias.

  • 2023
    Acoustic & Mechanical Metamaterials

    UK Metamaterials Network · Manchester · 31 July–4 August. Best design project award.