News

11/2025: Akil’s first paper, “First-Principles Insights into Vacancy-induced Thermal Conductivity Suppression in 2D MoS2 and MoSe2“, was published on the Journal of Applied Physics. Good job!

11/2025: Charlie’s second paper, “Role of Nanotwins, Stacking Faults, and Short-Range Order in Strengthening CoCrNi Medium-Entropy Alloys: An Atomistic Modeling Study“, was published on Materials Science & Engineering A. Keep it up!

10/2025: Bala joined our group as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Welcome on board!

09/2025: Amin’s first paper, “Atomistic Modeling of Bond Exchange Reaction and Self-Healing Mechanisms in Epoxy Vitrimers“, was published on the European Polymer Journal. Way to go!

08/2025: Silvina joined our group as a PhD student. Welcome on board!

08/2025: Mohammad’s first paper, “Applications of Machine Learning in High-Entropy Alloys: A Review of Recent Advances in Design, Discovery, and Characterization“, was published on Nanoscale. Great job!

05/2025: Charlie’s first paper, “Nanoscale Deformation Mechanisms in CrCoNi Medium Entropy Alloys: Influence of Crystallographic Orientation and Chemical Short-range Order“, was published on European Journal of Mechanics-A/Solids. Well done!

05/2025: Undergraduate students, Hunter, Samuel and Zach joined our group to conduct summer research.

05/2025: Sharmi graduated with her PhD degree. Well done and congratulations!

04/2025: Dr. Zhang received the Outstanding Scholarship Award – ECS Baylor University.

01/2025: Mohammad Golbabaei joined our group as a PhD student. Welcome on board!

12/24: Dr. Zhang received the ONE-URC grant from Baylor University. Thank you for your support for our research group!

12/24: Dr. Zhang received the Best Poster Presentation Award – NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Grantees Conference.

10/24: Dr. Zhang was recognized as The ASME Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering.

09/24: Our paper, “Multiscale computational modeling techniques in study and design of 2D materials: recent advances, challenges, and opportunities“, was published on 2D Materials.

01/24: Nurul Ahad Akil joined our group as a PhD student. Welcome on board!

01/24: Dr. Zhang’s review paper, “Role of atomistic modeling in bioinspired materials design: A review“, was published on Computational Materials Science.

08/23: Amin Kuhzadmohammadi joined our group as a PhD student. Welcome on board!

06/23: High school student, Arielle Wong, joined our group for summer research.

05/23: Undergraduate students, Natalie Tran, Brianna Robles and Daniel Wang, join our group for summer research.

05/23: Sharmi’s first paper “Cellulose–Hemicellulose–Lignin Interaction in the Secondary Cell Wall of Coconut Endocarp” was published on Biomimetics. Congratulations!

01/23: Undergraduate students, Tiffany Phan and Jason Zhou, joined our group to conduct polymer composites related research.

11/22: Sharmi passed her Preliminary Exam at Baylor, now she is a PhD candidate. Congratulations!

10/22: Dr. Zhang attended the SES conference and made a presentation.

08/22: Sebastian Chirinos joined our group as a PhD student. Welcome onboard!

08/22: Charles Matlock joined our group as a PhD student. Welcome onboard!

08/22: Zhang Group moved to Baylor University.

07/22: Dr. Zhang received NSF CAREER Award: Multiscale Mechanics of Bio-based, Reprocessable, Recyclable and Mechanically Robust Polymer Composites.

05/22: Morgan Helder joined our group to conduct summer research. 

05/22: Sharmi passed her proposal defense. Congratulations!

04/22: Michael Cornett and Charles Hittson attended the URCA conference. 

04/22: Michael Cornett received the 2022 AEM Outstanding BSAE Senior Award. Congratulations! 

03/22: Sharmi made a presentation on the 2022 TMS conference regarding celloluse-hemicellose-lignin interaction in Coconut endocarp.

02/22:  Dr. Zhang gave a talk to the Northridge Middle School students regarding materials design. 

12/21: Our group received NSF REU Award to support undergraduate research.

10/21: Sharmi passed her qualify exam, congratulations!

08/21: Zhang group received NSF/DMR Grant to work on “Strengthening and Toughening Mechanisms of Coconut Endocarp”.

08/21: Rajesh Ramesh joined our group as a PhD student.

08/21: Kabiru Atiku joined our group as a PhD student.

06/21: Dr. Zhang received ORAU ​Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards to work on “Precipitation Strengthening Mechanisms in CoCrNi-based Medium-entropy Alloys”. 

05/21: Undergraduate students: Charles Hittson, Michael Cornett, and Raza Bajwa start to work on their research projects.

02/21: Four undergraduates: Mary (Mary-Harmon) Patrenos, Charles Hittson, Michael Cornett, and Raza Bajwa joined our group to start their MD simulation training.

07/20: Our catalyst paper, “Tuning of Trifunctional NiCu Bimetallic Nanoparticles Confined in a Porous Carbon Network with Surface Composition and Local Structural Distortions for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction, Oxygen and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions“, was published on JACS.

02/20: Dr. Zhang attended The Minerals, Metals, and Materials (TMS), San Diego, California, USA. 

01/20: Sharmi Mazumder joined our group as a PhD student.

10/19: Dr. Zhang attended Society of Engineering Science (SES) 56th Annual Technical Meeting, St Louis, MO, USA

08/19: Dr. Zhang joined the University of Alabama as an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics.

03/19: Dr. Zhang received ​TMS FMD Young Leaders Professional Development Award.

03/19: Dr. Zhang received TMS SMD Young Professional Poster Winner.