Bai Research Group

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

College of Engineering

Northeastern University

Contact

334 Snell Engineering Center

360 Huntington Ave

Boston, MA 02115

Email: ru.bai@northeastern.edu

News

09/2025: Congratulations to Abhishek Nair for earning the Northeastern University PEAK Experience Base Camp Award, and to Umme Hani Bootwala for earning the Northeastern University PEAK Experience Summit Award (second time)! These awards will support their continuous undergraduate research projects.
04/2025: Congratulations to Zhengxuan for winning the Yamamura Research Award from the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department.
03/2025: We received the NSF (National Science Foundation) CAREER Award!
02/2025: Ruobing gave invited talks at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
02/2025: Congratulations to Zumrat for winning the Alan Gent Distinguished Student Paper Award from the Adhesion Society.

Group photo, 2024 Fall

Welcome to the webpage of the Bai Group! We combine theory and experiment in solid mechanics, materials science, and other multiphysical processes in areas including but not limited to multifunctional materials, fracture, adhesion, strengthening and toughening, sustainable materials, soft robotics, human-machine interfaces, and energy storage systems. We have a strong background of theoretical modeling as well as modern laboratory facilities for material synthesis, fabrication, and characterization. Check our Research and Publications for more.

Opening (last updated August 2025)

Multiple positions are available in our group in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University. You are welcome to send email to Prof. Ruobing Bai (ru.bai@northeastern.edu) for further information about undergraduate research, PhD, postdoc, and visiting student/scholar. Please indicate your anticipated starting time.

(We receive a large volume of emails daily. We read them all, but may not respond to all emails. Please be assured that your emails will be read, and there is no need to send reminders.)

PhD position

We typically recruit 1-2 PhD students every year in the broad area of mechanics and materials. You are welcome to contact (ru.bai@northeastern.edu) for inquiry with your CV and targeting start time. Currently, we have PhD opening for Fall 2026.

Postdoc position

Currently, we do not have any immediate postdoc opening. However, you are welcome to contact (ru.bai@northeastern.edu) for any possible potential opportunities.

Undergraduate, master, and visiting student/scholar for research

We have an active group of undergraduate and master students taking research projects. You are welcome to contact (ru.bai@northeastern.edu) and discuss more. Currently, we encourage:

Undergraduate students at Northeastern: we support research projects (with or without credits) especially your applications for NU PEAK Awards.
Master's students at Northeastern: we do not have funding for master research assistantship, but we encourage the Master Thesis option if you consider pursuing PhD after graduation.
Visiting student/scholar: please check the latest policy of Northeastern in supporting visiting scholars and contact (ru.bai@northeastern.edu) if you are interested.