Niu Research Group

Dr. Fan Liu

Research Assistant Professor

Research direction: Nature inspired design of metamaterials and composites

Email: liuf1 at sunypoly.edu


Ph.D. in Mechanical  Engineering, Stony Brook University

M.S. in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU)

B.E. in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Dalian University of Technology (DUT)

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Research Faculty/Staff

Dr. Precious Osayamen Etinosa

Research Scientist and Manager of CNIE

Research direction: Nature inspired design of fracture resistant biomedical materials

Email: etinosp at sunypoly.edu


Ph.D. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Africa University of Science and Technology 

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Alumni

Ph.D. Graduates:

  • 12/2026 (expected) -- Kunyao Zheng (supervised during Sep. 2022 - Dec. 2024), Research Direction: “Bioinspired Design of Fracture Resistant Dental Restorative Composites” 
  • ​08/2024 -- Dr. Jinpei Wang (co-supervised with Professor Zuankai Wang), PhD Dissertation: “Designing Functionalized Surfaces for Heat Energy Conversion” 
  • 05/2022 -- Dr. Huanyun Ji, PhD Dissertation: “A Fracture-Resistant and Durable Dental Restorative Composite with Bio-Inspired Graded Structure”
  • 11/2021 -- Dr. Wenqiang Zhang (co-supervised with Professor Yang Lu at CityU MNE), PhD Dissertation: “Solid-Liquid Microlattice Metamaterials and Their Multifunctional Applications” 
  • 09/2018 -- Dr. Yuexing Zhan, PhD Dissertation: "Investigation on Several Mechanical Problems Related to Hydrogel Derivatives"
  • 07/2018 -- Dr. Zijian Yao, PhD Dissertation: "Assembly of Nanoparticles and its Application in Polymer Based Composites"
  • 06/2018 -- Dr. Guo Liu (supervised during Sep. 2013 - Apr. 2016; co-supervised with Professor Jian Lu during May. 2016 - Jun. 2018), PhD Dissertation: "Four-dimensional Printing of Elastomer-Derived Ceramic Structures"
  • 04/2017 -- Dr. Bing Chen, Ph.D. Dissertation: "Structural Behavior of Bioinspired Dental Multilayer"
  • 06/2016 -- Dr. Yongli Wang, Ph.D. Dissertation: "Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Biological Materials"

Bachelor Graduates:

  • 05/2026 -- Dane Campbell and Dawson Leach, Capstone Project: “Anisotropic Mechanical Behavior of 3D Printed Metamaterials”
  • 08/2021 -- Chinon Wong, Undergraduate Thesis: “Experimental study on the elastic modulus of 3D-printed isotropic metamaterials”
  • 08/2020 -- Siu Chun Wong, Undergraduate Thesis: “A 3D printed hard-soft interface mimicking tendon-bone integration”
  • 07/2020 -- Yuki Asai, Undergraduate Thesis: “Literature survey and case study of 3D printed robust hard-soft mimicking tendon-bone integration”
  • 07/2020 -- Sin Long Chiu, Undergraduate Thesis: “3D printing of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) scaffolds for hard-soft hybrids”
  • 07/2020 -- Oi Yan Fiona Leung, Undergraduate Thesis: “Fabrication of a hard-soft hybrid mimicking tendon-bone integration”
  • 07/2020 -- Chak Fung Ng, Undergraduate Thesis: “A 90° peeling test for examination of the interfacial toughness of hard-soft hybrids”
  • 07/2020 -- Renaldi Yustisio, Undergraduate Thesis: “Effect of interphase/interface design to interfacial toughness of soft-hard hybrid”
  • 05/2019 -- Kin Chi Chan, Long Hin Chan, Tin Long Chow and Chun Wai Or, B.Eng. Thesis: "Mechanical and Electrical Behaviours of 3D-Printed Conductive Hydrogel-PDMS Hybrid under Cyclic Loading"
  • 05/2019 -- Siu Ting Wan, Tak Shing Wong, Ting Kai Yan and Wing Long Yip, B.Eng. Thesis: "A 3D printed robust hard-soft hybrid mimicking tendon-bone integration"
  • 05/2018 -- Wai Shan Chan, Wing Tung Leung and See Chai Tse, B.Eng. Thesis: "3D Printing of Hydrophilic-hydrophobic Hybrids"
  • 05/2018 -- Timothy Chun Hei Fong and Cathy Hoi Ching Kwan, B.Eng. Thesis: "Construction of Tough Dental Composite via 3D Printing"
  • 05/2018 -- Nikunj Agarwal, Adelina Tjokronegoro and Chen Hui Wu, B.Eng. Thesis: "Additive Manufacturing and Mechanical Property of Isotropic Cellular Materials"
  • 05/2017 -- Yan Ting Chan, Tsz Ling Wong and Tak Mei Yiu, B.Eng. Thesis: "3D Printing of Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Polymer"
  • 04/2017 -- Fei Fei Cheng, Choi Ying Ling, Seong Rae Roh and Mei Yee Yeung, B.Eng. Thesis : "Fabrication and Mechanical Testing of Silica-Titania-PDMS Nanocomposites for 3D Printable Soft Robots with Enhanced Thermal Stability"
  • 04/2017 -- Long Yin Fung, Lok Yee Madeleine Lam and Chun Yan Leung, B.Eng. Thesis: "Fabrication of 3D Printable Zirconia-silica-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Nanocomposites as Thermally Stable Materials for Soft Robotics"
  • 04/2017 -- Sin Yat Leung, B.Eng. Thesis: "Effect of Gamma - MPS as Coupling Agent on
    Grafting Performance and Mechanical Properties of Zirconia – BisGMA/TEGDMA Nanocomposite"
  • 08/2016 -- Nicolas James Ho, B.Eng. Thesis: "Fabrication and 3D Printing of Tough Hydrogel"
  • 05/2016 -- Lok Sze Cheung, Tsz Yan Man, Sau Ching Yam and Ka Yan Yau, B.Eng. Thesis: "Investigation on Mechanical and Structural Behaviours of Human Hair"
  • 05/2016 -- Wai Tung Fu, Ching Yee Kwok, Wing Yan Lee and Momina Shad, B.Eng. Thesis: "3D Printing of a Strong and Light Polymer"
  • 05/2016 -- Hiu Man Lau, Yuen Man Ng and Chun Kit Yip, B.Eng. Thesis: "Reproducible Design of Heat-curing Extrusion Bioprinter"

Visiting Professors:

  • 08/2025 -- Prof. Lifeng Wang, Stony Brook University
  • 07/2025 -- Prof. Wanliang Shan, Syracuse University  
  • 05/2025 -- Prof. Zhao Qin, Syracuse University                                                        
  • Fall 2024 -- ​Prof. Yue Ding, Xi'an Jiaotong University
  • Spring 2024 & Summer 2014 -- Prof. Gangfeng Wang, Xi'an Jiaotong University
  • Spring & Summer 2018 -- Prof. Liyuan Zhang, University of Science and Technology
  • Summer 2015 & Summer 2013 -- Prof. Fenglin Guo, Shanghai Jiao Tong University​

Visiting Ph.D. Students:

  • ​10/2024-12/2024 -- Dr. Yichun Tang, Penn State University

  • 06/2021-09/2022 -- Dr. Anran Wei, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

  • 11/2014-01/2015 -- Dr. Yihui Pan, Tongji University

  • 04/2013-04/2014 -- Dr. Yue Ding, Xi’an Jiaotong University

  • 12/2012-04/2013 -- Dr. Jianjun Bian, Xi’an Jiaotong University

Postdocs, Research Associates/Assistants and Student Interns:

  • Miss Brenda (Xue) Bai (May 2025 – Aug. 2025), Research Project: "Harnessing Fungal Biowelding for Constructing Mycelium-Engineered Materials"
  • Dr. Jianjun Bian (Nov. 2014 - Nov. 2015)
  • Dr. Bing Chen (Sep. 2015 - Feb. 2016)
  • Mr. Kang Chen (Jul. 2017 - Dec. 2017)
  • Dr. Yue Ding (Jun. 2021 - Dec. 2021, PT)
  • Dr. Yucheng Dong (Feb. 2014 - Apr. 2014)​​
  • Mr. Oliver Eisenberger (Jan. 2026 - May 2026; PT), Research Project: “3D-printing Assisted Design of Robust Soft Robotic Interphases” 
  • Mr. Pierre-Alain Gbalou (Jan. 2026 - May 2026; PT), Research Project: “3D-printing Assisted Design of Robust Soft Robotic Interphases” 
  • Mr. Nicolas James Ho (Mar. 2015 - Dec. 2016; PT)
  • Mr. Yonglong Hu (Jul. 2013 - Apr. 2016)
  • Mr. Ken Lau (Feb. 2015 - May 2015; PT)
  • Mr. Sin Yat Leung (Aug. 2016 - May 2017; PT)
  • Ms. Wing Tung Leung (Aug. 2017 -  Aug. 2018; PT)
  • Dr. Xuanming Liang (Mar. 2024 - Jun. 2024 & Jun. 2021 - Dec. 2021)
  • Dr. Zong-Yuan Liu (Jul. 2021 - Dec. 2021)
  • Mr. Zheming Luo (Aug. 2017 - Aug. 2018; PT)
  • Dr. Yihui Pan (Nov. 2014 - Jan. 2015)
  • Dr. Zhiyong Ren (Dec. 2014 - Jan. 2015, FT; Jun. 2021 - Dec. 2021 PT)
  • Mr. Finn Scheffer (Jan. 2026 - May 2026; PT), Research Project: “3D-printing Assisted Design of Robust Soft Robotic Interphases” 
  • Ms. Adelina Tjokronegoro (Oct. 2016 - Jan. 2017; PT)
  • Mr. Adam Thommesen (Feb. 2026 - May 2026; PT), Research Project: “3D-printing Assisted Design of Robust Soft Robotic Interphases”
  • Ms. See Chai Tse (May 2018 - Aug. 2018; PT)
  • ​Dr. Lianchao Wang (Feb. 2024 - Oct. 2024)
  • Dr. Yangyong Wang (Jul. 2013 - Jun. 2015; PT)
  • Miss Leah Winkelman (Jan. 2026 - May 2026; PT), Research Project: “3D-printing Assisted Design of Robust Soft Robotic Interphases” 
  • Mr. Shiqi Wu (Aug. 2016 - Feb. 2017)
  • Mr. Bo XU (Apr. 2018 - Jan. 2023)
  • Ms. Su Yang (Sep. 2017 - Jan 2018)
  • Dr. Weike Yuan (Mar. 2024 - Jun. 2024 & Oct. - Dec. 2021)
  • Ms. Qing Zhang (Sep. 2014 - May 2015)

Students

Dr. Xinrui (Sarah) Niu

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

​Principal Investigator and Director of Center for Nature Inspired Engineering (CNIE)


​​Office: Donovan 1187; Phone: (315) 792-7417
Email: niux at sunypoly.edu


Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame
M.S. in Solid Mechanics, Tsinghua University
B.S. in Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University

Principle Investigator