Yuchen Zhang
Ph.D. Candidate in Chemical Engineering
Research Interests:
Biomaterials • Water-responsive materials • Interfacial water •
Porous materials • Soft matter
Email:
yzhang5@ccny.cuny.edu
Affiliation:
The Chen Lab
Department of Chemical Engineering
The City College of New York
About Me
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering working on
cavitation condition and performance of biocomposites.
My research focuses on understanding the relationship between
material structure, water transport, and mechanical behavior,
with the goal of developing functional materials for
energy harvesting.
Research Interests
- Water-responsive and hygroscopic materials
- Biomaterials and bio-derived polymers
- Interfacial and confined water
- Porous materials and water sorption
- Structure–property relationships in soft materials
Education
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering
The City College of New York
2023 – 2028
M.S. in Chemical Engineering
New York University
2021 – 2023
B.S. in Biological Engineering
Beijing University of Chemical Technology
B.S. in Bioprocess Engineering
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
2016 – 2020
Selected Publications
-
Y. Zhang, C. Sun, E. Wong E, M.K. Khan, D. Podbevšek, W. MacSwain W, R.S. Tu*, X. Chen*.
“Interfacial water confinement couples hygroactuation and mechanical robustness in free-standing bio-composites.”
Advanced Functional Materials, 2026.
[Link] - Mentored 3 undergraduate students @ Chen Lab
- CHEM 785 Introduction to Nanotechnology (Spring 2026, Grad-level, 4 Cr.)
- CHE 346 Transport Operations (Spring 2025, Undergrad-level, 4 Cr.)
- CHE 432 Chemical Reaction Engineering (Fall 2024, Undergrad-level, 3 Cr.)
View full publication list on Google Scholar →
Mentoring & Teaching
Research Mentor
Teaching Assistant
Beyond Research
Beyond research, I like to play the piano. I also enjoy swimming, hiking, and exploring food in NYC.