Team

Principal Investigator

Tao Sun

Tao Sun

Associate Professor

Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, 2019-2023
Physicist, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 2017-2019
Assistant Physicist, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 2012-2017
Postdoc, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 2010-2012

PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2009
MS in Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, 2004
BS in Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, 2002


Postdocs

Jiayun Shao

Jiayun Shao

Postdoctorate Research Scholar

DEng in Mechanical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2022
BS in Material Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 2017

Research Interests:
1. Microstructure-defect relationshhip in laser powder bed fusion of aluminum and titanium alloys
2. Laser wire directed energy deposition of high-performance aluminum alloys
3. Multi-sensor and machine learning defect detection in laser powder bed fusion


PhD Students

Kyle Mumm

Kyle Mumm

3rd year PhD candidate

BS in Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, 2022

Research Interests:
1. Stochastic defect generation mechanisms in laser powder bed fusion
2. In-situ monitoring techniques for defect-melt pool relationships
3. Multiphysics simulations of laser-metal interaction region

Peter (Zhiyuan) Li

Peter (Zhiyuan) Li

2nd year PhD student

BEng in Mechanical Engineering, University College London, 2023

Research Interests:
1. Mechanistic understanding of process parameter-microsctructure relationship in binder jetting
2. Binder jet printing of functional materials for energy storage applications
3. X-ray nanoCT for 3D microstructural characterization of lithium-ion battery electrodes

Xingyang Li

Xingyang Li

1st year PhD student

MS in Additive Manufacturing, Carnegie Mellon University, 2022
BS in Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2022

Research Interests:
1. In-situ characterization of solidification and microstructure evolution in additive manufacturing
2. Computational simulation of DED process

Sihang Feng

Sihang Feng

1st year PhD student

MS in Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, 2024
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, 2021

Research Interests:
1. Advanced instrumentation
2. Multi-material printing using wire-laser directed energy deposition

Runzhi (Arthur) Zhang

Runzhi (Arthur) Zhang

5th year PhD candidate at University of Virginia

MS in Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2020
BS in Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, 2018

Research Interests:
1. Laser powder bed fusion of complex alloys for high electrical conductivity
2. Binder jetting printed structural and functional metals



Lilly Balderson

Lilly Balderson

4th year PhD student at University of Virginia

BS in Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2021

Research Interests:
1. Additive manufacturing of high-temperature composite materials
2. Operando synchrotron x-ray imaging of direct ink writing process



Master Students

Neethu Nazar

Neethu Nazar

1st year Master student

Master of Arts in Space and Telecommunication Laws, NALSAR University of Law, 2022
BS in Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, 2020

Research Interests:
1. Multi-material wire laser directed energy deposition
2. Materials characterization



Alumni

Zhongshu Ren

Zhongshu Ren

Postdoc, 2020-2024

PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2020
BS in Ocean Engineering, Tianjin University, 2014

Research Interests: synchrotron x-ray imaging; laser powder bed fusion; direct ink writing

Current position: Beamline Scientist, National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory


Gao Lin

Gao Lin

PhD, 2020-2023

PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, 2023
MS in Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, 2019
BS in Materials Physics, Lanzhou University, 2017

Research Interests: synchrotron x-ray diffraction; wire laser directed energy deposition

Current position: Postdoc, Nuclear Science and Engineering, Argonne National Laboratory


Sarah Wolff

Sarah Wolff

Postdoc, 2018-2019

PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2018
MS in Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2013
BS in Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, 2013

Research Interests: directed energy deposition; synchrotron x-ray imaging

Current position: Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University


Niranjan Parab

Niranjan Parab

Postdoc, 2017-2019

PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, 2017
MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, 2012
BS in Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, 2010

Research Interests: synchrotron x-ray imaging; additive manufacturing; high-rate loading

Current position: Assembly Engineer, Intel Corporation


Cang Zhao

Cang Zhao

Postdoc, 2016-2019

PhD in Structure Engineering, University of California San Diego, 2015
MS in Condensed Matter Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 2011
BS in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 2009

Research Interests: laser powder bed fusion; synchrotron x-ray imaging; nanoporous materials

Current position: Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University


© Copyright 2024 FAST-AM Lab

Last Updated: January 18, 2025
Contact

Prof. Tao Sun
Department of Mechanical Engineering
2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208
taosun@northwestern.edu
1-847-467-2676