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Group Openning:

I am looking for students with background in Mechanical/Industrial/Robotics Engineering and/or Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning . If you are interested, please send an email to yicai@hkust-gz.edu.cn with your resume. Thank you.

Biography: 

Dr. Yi Cai received his Ph.D. degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from North Carolina State University, and he is an Assistant Professor in the Smart Manufacturing Thrust in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou). His current research interests include: (1) Digital Twins for Advanced Engineering Systems, (2) Next-generation Additive Manufacturing, and (3) Novel robots for Future Manufacturing and Services. Dr. Cai has published more than 40 articles in reputable journals in manufacturing and robotics fields, including Advanced Functional Materials, Journal of Manufacturing Systems, IEEE Transactions on Mechatronics, Journal of Manufacturing Processes, Computers in Industry, and Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing. He is the PI of a variety of government research projects, including two from National Science Foundation in the United States. He also leads several industrial projects related to digital twin of manufacturing and service robots.

Dr. Cai serves as a Youth Editor of the Robot Learning journal, and he is a member of the Digital Twin Committee of China Graphics Society, Additive Manufacturing Committee of Chinese Society of Composite Materials, and Smart Manufacturing Committee of Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society. 

Dr. Cai received Best Track Paper 2nd Place in Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering (IISE) Annual 2019, Outstanding Reviewer at 2021 SME North America Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC), Outstanding Paper Award at 2023 SME North America Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC), Best Presentation Nomination Award in the 4th Digital Twin International Conference (DigiTwin 2024), Excellent Poster Award in the 9th Digital Twin and Smart Manufacturing Service Academic Conference 2025, SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 Hong Kong Posters Audience Choice Award, and 2026 ASME Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC) Best Paper Award.

Education:

Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina State University, 2017

M. Phil. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2011

B. Eng. in Mechatronics Engineering, South China University of Technology, China, 2009

Employment:

Assistant Professor

2021.9 – Present, Smart Manufacturing Thrust, Systems Hub, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Affiliated Assistant Professor

2024.7 – 2026.6, Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong.

Affiliated Assistant Professor

2021.9 – 2024.6, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong.

Assistant Professor

2017/8 – 2021.8, Department of Applied Engineering Technology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), Greensboro, North Carolina

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