Niu Research Group

Mr. Kunyao Zheng

Ph.D. candidate


Research direction: Bioinspired multilayers


M.S. in Instrument and Meter Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Science 

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Fuzhou University


Email: kunyzheng5-c at my.cityu.edu.hk

Research Staffs

Dr. Precious Osayamen Etinosa

Research Scientist

Research direction: Bioinspired 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 

​


Alumni

Ph.D. Graduates:

  • Dec 2026 (expected) -- Dr. Kunyao Zheng
  • ​Aug 2024 -- Dr. Jinpei Wang (co-supervised with Professor Zuankai Wang), PhD Dissertation: “Designing Functionalized Surfaces for Heat Energy Conversion” 
  • May 2022 -- Dr. Huanyun Ji, PhD Dissertation: “A Fracture-Resistant and Durable Dental Restorative Composite with Bio-Inspired Graded Structure”
  • Nov. 2021 -- Dr. Wenqiang Zhang (co-supervised with Professor Yang Lu at CityU MNE), PhD Dissertation: “Solid-Liquid Microlattice Metamaterials and Their Multifunctional Applications” 
  • Sep. 2018 -- Dr. Yuexing Zhan, PhD Dissertation: "Investigation on Several Mechanical Problems Related to Hydrogel Derivatives"
  • Jul. 2018 -- Dr. Zijian Yao, PhD Dissertation: "Assembly of Nanoparticles and its Application in Polymer Based Composites"
  • Jun. 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"
  • Apr. 2017 -- Dr. Bing Chen, Ph.D. Dissertation: "Structural Behavior of Bioinspired Dental Multilayer"
  • Jul. 2016 -- Dr. Yongli Wang, Ph.D. Dissertation: "Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Biological Materials"

Bachelor Graduates:

  • Aug. 2021 -- Chinon Wong, Undergraduate Thesis: “Experimental study on the elastic modulus of 3D-printed isotropic metamaterials”
  • Aug. 2020 -- Siu Chun Wong, Undergraduate Thesis: “A 3D printed hard-soft interface mimicking tendon-bone integration”
  • Jul. 2020 -- Yuki Asai, Undergraduate Thesis: “Literature survey and case study of 3D printed robust hard-soft mimicking tendon-bone integration”
  • Jul. 2020 -- Sin Long Chiu, Undergraduate Thesis: “3D printing of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) scaffolds for hard-soft hybrids”
  • Jul. 2020 -- Oi Yan Fiona Leung, Undergraduate Thesis: “Fabrication of a hard-soft hybrid mimicking tendon-bone integration”
  • Jul. 2020 -- Chak Fung Ng, Undergraduate Thesis: “A 90° peeling test for examination of the interfacial toughness of hard-soft hybrids”
  • Jul. 2020 -- Renaldi Yustisio, Undergraduate Thesis: “Effect of interphase/interface design to interfacial toughness of soft-hard hybrid”
  • May 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"
  • May 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"
  • May 2018 -- Wai Shan Chan, Wing Tung Leung and See Chai Tse, B.Eng. Thesis: "3D Printing of Hydrophilic-hydrophobic Hybrids"
  • May 2018 -- Timothy Chun Hei Fong and Cathy Hoi Ching Kwan, B.Eng. Thesis: "Construction of Tough Dental Composite via 3D Printing"
  • May 2018 -- Nikunj Agarwal, Adelina Tjokronegoro and Chen Hui Wu, B.Eng. Thesis: "Additive Manufacturing and Mechanical Property of Isotropic Cellular Materials"
  • May 2017 -- Yan Ting Chan, Tsz Ling Wong and Tak Mei Yiu, B.Eng. Thesis: "3D Printing of Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Polymer"
  • Apr. 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"
  • Apr. 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"
  • Apr. 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"
  • Aug. 2016 -- Nicolas James Ho, B.Eng. Thesis: "Fabrication and 3D Printing of Tough Hydrogel"
  • May 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"
  • May 2016 -- Wai Tung Fu, Ching Yee Kwok, Wing Yan Lee and Momina Shad, B.Eng. Thesis: "3D Printing of a Strong and Light Polymer"
  • May 2016 -- Hiu Man Lau, Yuen Man Ng and Chun Kit Yip, B.Eng. Thesis: "Reproducible Design of Heat-curing Extrusion Bioprinter"

Visiting Professors:

  • Prof. Yue Ding, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Fall 2024
  • Prof. Fenglin Guo, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Summer 2013 & Summer 2015 ​
  • Prof. Gangfeng Wang, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Spring 2024 & Summer 2014
  • Prof. Liyuan Zhang, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Spring & Summer 2018​

Visiting Ph.D. Students:

  • ​Dr. Jianjun Bian from Xi’an Jiaotong University (Dec. 2012 - Apr. 2013)

  • Dr. Yue Ding from Xi’an Jiaotong University (Apr. 2013 - Apr. 2014)

  • Dr. Yihui Pan from Tongji University (Nov. 2014 - Jan. 2015)

  • Mr. Yichun Tang from Penn State University (Oct. 2024 - Dec. 2024)

  • Dr. Anran Wei from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Jun. 2021 - Sep. 2022)

Postdocs, Research Associates and Student Helpers:

  • 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. 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)
  • Ms. Adelina Tjokronegoro (Oct. 2016 - Jan. 2017; PT)
  • Ms. See Chai Tse (May 2018 - Aug. 2018; PT)
  • ​Dr. Lianchao Wang (Feb. 2024 - Oct. 2024)
  • Dr. Yangyong Wang (Jul. 2013 - Jun. 2015; PT)
  • 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)

Graduate Students

Dr. Xinrui (Sarah) Niu

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

​PI 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