The Yu Group @ SU - Open Positions

Opening Positions:

We are always seeking motivated undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. students to join our group.

Application Instructions:

Undergraduate and Master's Students: Please attach a CV and specify any research interests. (Please review the information about my mentoring approach and lab expectations below before submitting your application.)
Ph.D. Students: Please include a cover letter (no more than one page) specifying your research interests, along with your CV. (Please review the information about my mentoring approach and lab expectations below before submitting your application.)

Lab Values and Mentoring Strategy

(Written in July 2024, Kun-Hao’s Personal Perspective)

For Undergraduate Students:

We welcome students who are eager to engage in cutting-edge research, apply classroom knowledge, and delve deeper into the mechanics of materials, material innovation, characterization, and additive manufacturing. You will gain hands-on experience in synthesizing and preparing materials, using various instruments for characterization, analyzing data, and proposing solutions to engineering challenges. This experience will be valuable whether you pursue a career in academia or industry.

What You Can Expect to Gain:

Application of Classroom Knowledge: Translate theoretical knowledge into practical applications, deepening your understanding.
Research Literacy: Learn how to read and understand research articles, gaining knowledge from papers beyond what is taught in textbooks.
Critical Thinking: Develop skills to evaluate the validity of information, learn to critically assess research, and distinguish between correct and incorrect knowledge.
Hands-On Experience: Synthesize and prepare materials, and use instruments for characterization.
Data Analysis: Interpret data to derive meaningful insights.
Problem-Solving: Propose and test potential solutions, and handle failures constructively.
Presentation Skills: Develop skills in presenting research findings.
Teamwork: Collaborate with others, respecting their ideas and contributions.
Professional Interests: Explore various research areas to help you identify and refine your professional interests.

For Master's Students:

We welcome students aiming to build research experience for a future Ph.D. or to gain industry-relevant experience. As master's students, you are expected to have a solid foundation in your field. You should be proactive in searching for solutions, solving problems using engineering approaches, and presenting your work. Master's programs are usually short, so I expect you to devote significant time to research and aim to complete or nearly complete one project before graduation. This experience will help build a solid foundation for your future career.

Note: I understand that students may not be entirely sure what research is about or whether they want to pursue a career in academia. You won't know if you enjoy research unless you fully commit to it while you are here. Working hard and dedicating yourself to your research projects will help you build a solid foundation for your future career. You have the freedom to explore different interests, but make sure to put in the effort to truly understand and experience what research entails before making your decisions.

What You Can Expect to Gain:

Deepen Knowledge: Build on your bachelor's degree, enhancing your understanding of your field.
Research Proficiency: Develop skills in literature review, experimental design, and data analysis.
Time Management: Balance the intensive research demands within a shorter program timeframe.
Presentation Skills: Hone your ability to communicate research findings effectively.
Problem-Solving: Tackle engineering challenges with innovative solutions.
Career Preparation: Gain experience that will support your future academic or industry career.
Professional Interests: Identify and develop your professional interests through research experiences and mentorship.

For Ph.D. Students:

Ph.D. students should have a clear goal for pursuing a Ph.D. and be willing to dedicate themselves to their field for 4-5 years. You should be prepared to face failures and use them as opportunities for growth. Failure isn’t pleasant, which is why you need to be clear about why you want to commit to a Ph.D. degree before you start. Applicants are expected to have experience or knowledge in mechanics, cementitious materials, bacterial or biomaterials, sustainable materials, or additive manufacturing.

Before applying, research our lab's work and consider how it aligns with your career goals. This helps us evaluate fit and mutual benefits.

Three important characteristics for potential Ph.D. students (These characteristics can be used for self-evaluation):

Motivation: As a Ph.D. student, you need to be clear about why you want to pursue a Ph.D. degree. Reflect on your past experiences: Do you enjoy doing research? Do you like solving problems, learning new knowledge, and exploring new fields? Are you excited about trying new things, especially through experiments? Are you capable of approaching tasks logically and methodically to achieve efficient and reliable results? These are crucial aspects of research that our group will help you develop, but it is essential to consider these before starting your Ph.D. journey.
Discipline: Once you set your goal to pursue a Ph.D. degree, you must be willing to put in the effort to become an expert in your field. While motivation is essential, taking action is even more critical. Understand that becoming an expert involves dedicating significant time to learning and understanding existing research. Hundreds or thousands of papers may have been published before you in your chosen field, and it is important to learn from them. This process involves continuous self-learning, experimentation, and iteration. You need to be humble and ready to spend a lot of time studying and conducting your own research simultaneously. By the time you earn your Ph.D., you should know more about your research area than anyone else, sometimes even teaching your advisor. This journey requires determination, self-growth, and the ability to filter true knowledge from false information.
Critical Thinking: Having a clear goal and being disciplined is foundational, but critical thinking is what will set you apart. Throughout your Ph.D. journey, you will encounter various perspectives, comments, suggestions, and opinions. You need to develop the ability to evaluate these inputs, determine what is accurate, and make informed decisions. Even your advisor’s opinions may not always be entirely correct. Science is about finding evidence to prove hypotheses. Boldly hypothesize but carefully prove. Understand why others hold different opinions, and respect their viewpoints. Critical thinking involves questioning your approach, considering potential outcomes, identifying possible issues, and planning accordingly. When faced with failure, analyze it to understand the root causes, search for solutions, and fix the problems. This process is an excellent training ground for developing innovative solutions. The ability to think critically, prove hypotheses, and draw sound conclusions will make you a successful researcher.

These three characteristics are my golden rules for helping you become a successful researcher. As your advisor, I will do my best to help you develop these traits by the time you graduate.

For all team members:

We work as a team, and you will receive support from me and others, and you will also have opportunities to contribute and help others. The following are some values I consider as important as your professional skills:

Respect: Acknowledge and value the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of all lab members.
Empathy: Understand that everyone makes mistakes; support each other in overcoming them.
Teamwork: Work together to maintain a safe and comfortable environment. Consider others' needs and ensure your actions do not negatively impact them.
Gratitude: Appreciate the help you receive. A simple "thank you" can go a long way.
Generosity: Help others selflessly, as you have been helped. Giving back fosters a supportive community.

I have received significant support throughout my academic career and recognize the barriers faced by students from underrepresented groups. Our group is committed to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion, providing equal opportunities for all students, particularly those from underrepresented groups. We provide a safe and inclusive environment where differences are respected, and open, frank discussions are encouraged. If you have any concerns, feel free to reach out, and I will do my best to assist you.

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