LSU Mechanical Engineer Recognized Among Nation’s Top Junior Faculty

July 12, 2010

University Consortium Grants Annual Award to Assistant Professor Ying Wang

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), a consortium of doctoral-granting academic institutions, announced that Assistant Professor Ying "Jane" Wang of LSU's Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) is among the recipients of its annual Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award.

The Powe Award recognizes exceptional academic work by university junior faculty within several disciplines: engineering or applied science; life sciences; mathematics and computer science; physical sciences; and policy, management or education. The award confers a $5,000 grant, matched by the member institution, designed to enhance the recipient's professional growth in the early stages of his or her career. Wang was named as one of 30 award recipients selected from 114 applicants in 98 Oak Ridge Associated University (ORAU) member institutions.

Wang's research involves development of coatings for high-energy density, high-power density, high-safety and cost effective lithium-ion batteries. These coatings help prevent capacity loss during long cycling, when batteries are cycled at high voltages or temperatures. Development of improved lithium-ion batteries are needed for terrestrial power and space systems. Wang has worked extensively on novel nanomaterials synthesis for applications in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

Chancellor Michael Martin and Interim Vice Chancellor for Research & Economic Development Doris Carver honored Hung in a July 12 ceremony recognizing her ORAU award and the outstanding scholarship it represents.

Wang joined the ME Department in August 2008, prior to arriving at LSU, she worked as a postdoc fellow in Materials Science at Northwestern University for two years. Wang's areas of specialization include: energy conversion and storage systems; electrochromic displays; nanostructured materials; functional ceramics; atomic and chemical layer deposition.

Wang received a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Washington in 2006 and M.A. degree in Chemistry from Harvard University in 1999. Wang has worked extensively in nanomaterials synthesis for applications in lithium-ion batteries and solar cells. Her recent awards include the Nanotechnology Graduate Research Award from the University of Washington Initiative Fund (UIF, 2005), a Graduate Fellowship from the PNNL-UW Joint Institute for Nanoscience (JIN, 2005), and a Ford Motor Company Fellowship (2004). She has published 21 journal papers, eight conference proceedings, six book chapters, one book (as second author), and has given many conference presentations and invited talks worldwide.

For more information about Ying Wang or LSU's Department of Mechanical Engineering, visit http://appl003.lsu.edu/mech/mechweb.nsf/$Content/Ying+Wang?OpenDocument

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Article excerpted from LSU media release, Ashley Berthelot, LSU Media Relations, 225-578-3870, abert4@lsu.edu