Dr. Quan Zhang
My educational and research background has prepared me to take on the challenging research topics related to Metamaterials and Wave Manipulations. My expertise in the design, fabrication, and experimental realization of elastic metamaterials is exemplified by my publications in leading high-impact journals.
Moreover, I have gained the experience of leading independent research projects as the PI through prestigious and highly competitive programs (EU Marie Skłodowska–Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, National Natural Science Foundation of China - Youth Program, and National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents). This unique research program experience strengthened my expertise in theoretical, numerical, and experimental aspects of metamaterial behavior.
Education
2013.09 – 2019.06
Ph.D. in Solid Mechanics
Beijing Institute of Technology
Doctoral Dissertation: Design and Wave Manipulation of Tunable Elastic Metamaterials,
Supervisor: Prof. Gengkai Hu and Prof. Kai Zhang.
2009.09 – 2013.07
B.Sc. in Engineering Mechanics
Beijing Institute of Technology
Bachelor Thesis: Investigation of Thermal Responses of 3D Printed Polymer Materials,
Supervisor: Prof. Kai Zhang.
Professional Employment
2025.01 – Present
Visiting Scholar
University of Cambridge
Department: Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics,
Scientific Host: Prof. Anton Souslov.
2023.06 – Present
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Galway
Marie Skłodowska–Curie Postdoctoral Fellow
Research topic: Soft Magnetoactive Metamaterials for Remote Tunability of Elastic Waves,
Scientific Host: Prof. Stephan Rudykh.
2021.10 – 2023.05
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Galway
Research topic: Modelling and Experiments of Soft Magnetoactive Metamaterials,
Supervisor: Prof. Stephan Rudykh.
2019.09 – 2021.09
Postdoctoral Researcher
Beijing Institute of Technology
Postdoctoral Fellow of China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents,
Research topic: Low-Frequency Elastic Wave Control and Vibration Isolation with
Metamaterials,
Supervisor: Prof. Li Liu and Prof. Gengkai Hu.
Research Grants Received
2024.04 – 2025.03
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Research Support Fund,
Funded by: College of Science & Engineering, University of Galway.
Grant No. RII698
Amount: €16,800
Role: Principal Investigator
2023.06 – 2025.05
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship,
Funded by: European Union (EU).
Grant No. 101106301
Amount: €199,694.40
Role: Principal Investigator
2021.01 – 2023.12
National Natural Science Foundation of China - Youth Program,
Funded by: Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
Grant No. 12002030
Amount: €43,600
Role: Principal Investigator
2019.09 – 2021.09
China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents,
Funded by: China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.
Grant No. BX20200052
Amount: €91,600
Role: Principal Investigator
Prizes and Awards
2023
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship
2020
China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents
2019
Outstanding Graduate Student of Beijing
2016
Excellent Paper Award of the First Beijing Mechanics Ph.D. Academic Forum
2016
National Scholarships for Graduate Students
Organisation of Conferences
15-17 Nov., 2019
Beijing, China
Member of the Local Organizing Committee,
Role: Structure the conference procedures and create the conference manual,
The 7th Youth Forum on Equipment Vibration and Noise Control
06-08 Jun., 2018
Beijing, China
Member of the Local Organizing Committee,
Role: Structure the conference procedures and create the conference manual,
The IUTAM Symposium on Acoustic/Elastic Metamaterials and Their Potential Engineering Applications
Supervising and Mentoring Activities
01/09/2015 – 01/03/2018
I co-supervised (with Prof. Kai Zhang) the M.Sc. student Ziwei Wang on his master's thesis. The relevant result “Tunable digital metamaterial for broadband vibration isolation at low frequency” was published in Advanced Materials.
01/09/2016 – 01/07/2019
I co-supervised (with Prof. Kai Zhang and Prof. Huilin Duan) the M.Sc. student Huan Liu on her master's thesis. The relevant result “Designing 3D digital metamaterial for elastic waves: from elastic wave polarizer to vibration control” was published in Advanced Science.
01/09/2017 – 01/07/2020
I co-supervised (with Prof. Lihua Shao and Prof. Kai Zhang) the M.Sc. student Boxuan Zhao on his master's thesis. The relevant result “4D printing composite with electrically controlled local deformation” was published in Extreme Mechanics Letters.
01/09/2018 – 01/07/2021
I co-supervised (with Prof. Kai Zhang) the M.Sc. student Jingyi Zhang on his master's thesis. The relevant result “Machine-learning based design of digital materials for elastic wave control” was published in Extreme Mechanics Letters.
15/10/2021 – *
I am co-supervising 3 Ph.D. students (Xie Chen, Andrei Cherkasov, and Olga Petrenko at the University of Galway) on projects related to magnetoactive composites, metamaterials, and wave propagation analysis.
02/03/2021 – 22/04/2021
Beijing Institute of Technology
Teaching assistant for Course: Engineering Materials
Content: grading assignments and designing final exam questions.
02/04/2021
Beijing Institute of Technology
Teaching assistant for Course: Wave Mechanics
Content: one-hour introductory lecture on topological elastic metamaterials.
Fall 2024
University of Galway
Tutoring for Course: Engineering Mechanics
Content: lead tutorials and guide students through exercises.