Yakai Zhao, Ph.D.

Short Bio

Dr. Yakai Zhao is currently a Senior Scientist at Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore. He received his B.S. and Ph.D. degree from Harbin Institute of Technology (China) and Hanyang University (South Korea), respectively. After a stint of post-doc at Beijing Institute of Technology, he joined Prof. Upadrasta Ramamurty’s group at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, as a Research Fellow in 2019 and then a Senior Research Fellow since 2021. His main research interests include fundamentals and applications of micro-/nano-mechanics, hydrogen embrittlement of materials, and design and characterizations of high-entropy alloys and additively manufactured alloys. He serves as Associate Editorial Board member for Materials Research Letters and peer reviewer for journals including Acta Materialia, International Journal of Plasticity, Materials Research Letters, Scripta Materialia, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Journal of Materials Science, etc.

Work Experience

May 2023 – present Senior Scientist I, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

July 2021 – May 2023 Senior Research Fellow, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 

June 2019 – June 2021 Research Fellow, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (Supervisor: Prof. Upadrasta Ramamurty)

April 2017 – April 2019 Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, China (Supervisor: Prof. Fuchi Wang)

Education

Sep. 2011 – Feb. 2017 Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, South Korea (Advisor: Prof. Jae-il Jang; Thesis: Influences of Hydrogen on the Nanomechanical Behavior of Advanced Structural Materials)

Sep. 2007 – July 2011 B.Eng. in Materials Processing and Controlling Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, China

Research Interests

• Fundamentals and applications of nano-/micro-mechanics

• Hydrogen effects on mechanical behavior

• Design, processing, and characterizations of advanced metallic materials

• Additively manufactured (3D-printed) alloys

• High-entropy alloys

• Metallic glasses (amorphous alloys)

• Severe plastic deformation and nanocrystalline metals

Activities, Services, & Awards

• Associate Editorial Board member for Materials Research Letters (2024–2026). (News in Chinese)

• Outstanding Reviewer Award for Acta Materialia and Scripta Materialia for 2020 (Acta Materilia, Scripta Materialia), 2021 (Acta Materilia, Scripta Materialia), 2022 (Acta Materilia, Scripta Materialia), and 2023.

• Peer reviewer for: International Journal of Plasticity, Acta Materialia, Materials Research Letters, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Scripta Materialia, Scientific Reports, Journal of Materials Science, Intermetallics, Advanced Engineering Materials, Metals and Materials International, Materials, CrystEngComm, Materials Technology, Entropy, Engineering Reports, Philosophical Magazine Letters

• Organising Committee member, Fracture and Fatigue of Materials Workshop, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, August 25 (2023). (Program book)

• Organising Committee member, Structural Metals and Alloys Programme (SMAP) Workshop 2023, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, July 14 (2023). (Program book)

• Organising Committee member, International Conference on Advances in Structural Alloys and Their Manufacturing (ASATM), Singapore, January 10–13 (2023). (Program book)

• Organising Committee member, Structural Metals and Alloys Programme (SMAP) Workshop 2022, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, June 1 (2022). (Program book)