PhD positions (TA/RA) available at Penn State

We are looking for PhD candidates to conduct research at the following two interdisciplinary subfields, starting from Spring of 2015. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply (suz10@psu.edu)

1) Mechanics in electrochemistry. We develop atomistically informed continuum mechanics models, coupling mechanics and lithium reaction and diffusion to account for a wide range of in-situ experimental phenoemna. Some recent publications:

Yan H. et al., A chemo-mechanical model of lithiation in Si. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, (2014); 

Gu, M., et al.,  Bending-Induced Symmetry Breaking of Lithiation in Germanium Nanowires, Nano Letters, (2014)

Liu X. H., self-limiting lithiation in silicon nanowires, ACS Nano (2013)

Liang W. T., et al., Tough Germanium nanoparticles under electrochemical cycling. ACS Nano (2013)

Liang W. T., et al., Nanovoid formation and annihilation in Galium nanodroplets under lithiation-delithiation cycling. Nano Letters, (2013). 

Huang X., et al., Lithiation induced corrosive fracture in defective carbon nanotubes. Applied Physics Letters, (2013)

Yang H. et al., Orientation-dependent interfacial mobility governs the anisotropic swelling in lithiated silicon nanowires, Nano Letters, 2012 

2) Mechanics in biology. We develop numerical models and conduct in vitro cell culture experiments to study synthetic nanopartice-enabled drug delivery, red blood cell disorders, and mechanical environment regulated cell responses (would healing and tumorigenesis). Some recent papers:

 Zhang, S. L. et al.,  Mechanics of Endocytosis, ACS Nano, Invited Review, (2014)  

Huang C. J. et al., Role of nanoparticle geometry in endocytosis: laying down to stand up. Nano Letters, (2013)

Huang C. J. et al., Substrate stiffness regulates cellular uptake of nanoparticles. Nano Letters, (2013)

Huang C. J. et al., Coupled vesicle morphogenesis and domain organization. Applied Physics Letters (2011)

Yuan H. Y. et al., variable nanoparticle-cell adhesion strength regulats cellular uptake, Physics Review Letters (2010)

Yuan H. Y. et al., Dynamic shape transformation of fluid vesicles. Soft Matter (2010)

Zhang S. L., et al., Size dependent endocytosis of nanoparticles. Advanced Materials (2009)