Yan Li

Assistant Professor of Engineering

Professor Li guides her students in ENGS 33: Solid Mechanics as they design and build a scale model of a bridge that is stiff, strong, and economical. (Photo by Rob Strong)

Overview

Yan Li received her PhD degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2014. Prior to joining Dartmouth, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at California State University, Long Beach. She has also been a faculty advisor for Society of Women Engineering (SWE) since 2014.

Her primary research interests are in the area of mechanics of advanced materials, involving multiscale/multiphysics modelling, integrated computational/experimental approaches for next generation material design, and application of material science and solid mechanics in advanced manufacturing. Li has worked on research projects supported by the US Army Research Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, NSF CCMD (Center for Computational Materials Design) and collaborated with industry partners including Boeing, Gulfstream and GE.

Outside her lab and classroom, she likes classical music, reading and exploring different cultures and food.

Research Interests

Multiscale modeling; fracture/fatigue analysis; process-microstructure-property-performance relation; data-driven material design

Education

BS, Mechanical Engineering, Yanshan University 2006
MS, Material Science Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2009
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology 2014

Awards

Thayer Diversity and Inclusion Award, 2024
Jubilee Global Diversity Award, 2023
NH EPSCorR Pilot Award, 2020
ASME ORR Early Career Award, 2020
NSF Travel Award for Faculty Development Symposium, 2019
NSF Travel Award for AISES National Conference, 2019
NSF Travel Award for the National Diversity in STEM Conference, 2018
NSF Travel Award for the Faculty Career Development Workshop, 2018
Best Paper Award of the 8th International Conference on Computational Methods, 2018
NSF Travel Award for LEVERAGE Summer Institute for Early Career Faculty, 2018
NSF Travel award for Academic and Research Leadership (ARL) Symposium, 2018
WAC Teaching Writing Fellow at California State University, Long Beach, 2017
NSF Travel award for the Academic Leadership for Women in Engineering (ALWE) program, 2016
Travel award for Professors Around the World at California State University, Long Beach, 2016

Professional Activities

SWE (Society of Women Engineers)
ACerS (The American Ceramic Society)
SAMPE (Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering)

Research Projects

Computational Material Design of Multi-objective Multiple Principal Element Alloys

Computational Material Design of Multi-objective Multiple Principal Element Alloys

The objective of this work is to develop AI-assisted computational tools to speed up the design and manufacturing of Multi-objective Multiple Principal Element Alloys.
3D Printing of Zeolite Catalysts

3D Printing of Zeolite Catalysts

In this collaborative project, we developed a 3D printing approach capable of fabricating catalysts with enhanced surface area and high catalyst loading. This technology will pave the way for many catalytic activities, such as turning waste into jet fuel and removing greenhouse gas emissions.
Dynamic Observations of The Behavior of Snow/Ice Lenses Under Load

Dynamic Observations of The Behavior of Snow/Ice Lenses Under Load

The objective of this project is to elucidate the deformation behavior of snow specimens that contain either a weak snow layer or an ice lens at the microscopic level using advanced imaging techniques and simulation model.
Explainable and Adaptable Artificial Intelligence for Advanced Manufacturing

Explainable and Adaptable Artificial Intelligence for Advanced Manufacturing

The objective of this project is to develop AI-assisted tools that enable explainable and adaptable metamaterial design and manufacturing.
High-Temperature Effective Piezoelectric Composites for Future Space Self-Powering Sensors

High-Temperature Effective Piezoelectric Composites for Future Space Self-Powering Sensors

The objective of this project is to develop 3D printable piezocomposites that can maintain excellent structural integrity under high temperature environments.

Selected Publications

Tang Y, Li Y*. (2025) "A novel thermoelectric system for enhancing power generation from waste heat." Energy Conversion and Management. 344: 120262.
Zhao H, Liu Y, Tang X, Kim Li, Y*. (2025) "A novel compressible piezocomposite design for acceleration and dynamic force sensing." Materials & Design. 257: 114492.
Zhao H, Tang Y, Liu X, Kim A, Henry J, Li Y*. (2025) "High-temperature piezoelectric composites with enhanced structural integrity." Ceramics International. 51: 23417-23424.
Tang Y, Zhao H, Liu X, Henry J, Li Y*. (2024) "Design of metamaterial thermoelectric generators for efficient energy harvesting." Energy Conversion and Management: X. 24: 100699.
Liu X, Zhao H, Tang Y, Chen C, Zhu Y, Song B, Li Y*. (2024) "Few-shot learning-based generative design of metamaterials with zero Poisson’s ratio." Materials & Design. 113224.
Zhao H, Liu X, Li Y*. (2024) "Architecture design of high-performance piezoelectric energy harvester with 3D metastructure substrate." Adv. Theory Simul.: p2301214 [Featured as the cover].
Karakaya K, Qian M, Zou R, Zhang W, Lu Z, Maiti D, Samanta A, Wan W, Liu X, Tiplea A, Li Y, Cui S, Wang C, Lei H, Bankston S, Yilmaz S, Chen J, Ozcan S. (2024) "3D printing synthesis of catalysts." Materials Today Sustainability. 100746.
Tong X, Li Y*, Fu M*. (2024) "Modeling of grain size effects in progressive microforming using CPFEM." International Journal of Mechanical Sciences. 108971.
Zhao H, Huddy J, Scheideler W, Li Y*. (2023) "Rational design of 3D-printed metastructure-based pressure sensors." Journal of Advanced Engineering Materials. 2301056.
Li Y*, Cao J, Williams C. (2019) "Competing failure mechanisms in metal matrix composites and their effects on fracture toughness." Materialia. 5: 100238.
Li Y, Zhou M. (2013) "Prediction of fracture toughness of ceramic composites as function of microstructure: I. Numerical simulations." Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 61: 472-488.
Li Y, Zhou M. (2013) "Prediction of fracture toughness of ceramic composites as function of microstructure: II. Analytical model." Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 61: 489-503.

Patents

Modeling and fabrication of functional ceramic-polymer composites | WO2024137624A1

Books

Advances in Bioenergy

Elsevier Inc, 2023

Videos

Dynamic Motion Detection

Force Sensing

News

From Waste to Watt: A Thermoelectric Breakthrough
Aug 18, 2025

Celebrating Excellence: The 2024 Faculty Awards
Jul 31, 2024

Irving Institute Awards New Faculty Seed Grants for Energy and Climate Research
Jun 28, 2024

Yan Li Receives Jubilee Global Diversity Award
Oct 12, 2023

Dartmouth Engineering Receives NASA Grant to Develop Sensor Materials That Can Take the Heat
Oct 03, 2022

Dartmouth Engineering Lab Paves the Way for New Highly Specialized Ceramics
Dec 02, 2021

Dartmouth Engineers Win Funding for Biomaterials Research
Oct 09, 2020

Yan Li Wins ASME Early Career Award
Aug 11, 2020

Meet Dartmouth's Newest Teacher-Scholars
Jan 30, 2020

Research Quick Takes

Graphic of acceleration and dynamic force sensing

Aug 21, 2025

Compressible Multifunctional Piezocomposite Sensor

PhD students Huan Zhao, Xiangbei Liu, and Ya Tang, Andrew Kim '27, and Professor Yan Li co-authored "A novel compressible piezocomposite design for acceleration and dynamic force sensing" published in Materials & Design. The paper presents a design that integrates triaxial acceleration sensing and dynamic force sensing into a single, compact device—addressing the need for combined motion and force feedback in applications such as robotic surgery to enable smoother, more precise operations.

Jun 12, 2025

Research Prize: Metamaterials

PhD student Xiangbei Liu received third prize in the 2025 Neukom Outstanding Graduate Research Awards. Her research with Yan Li’s Group uses machine learning to efficiently design metamaterials with zero Poisson's ratio that maintain their shape in the transverse direction when stretched or compressed, making them ideal for soft robotics and biomedical devices.

Mar 20, 2025

Novel Piezo-Composites

PhD students Huan Zhao, Ya Tang, and Xiangbei Liu, undergraduate students Andrew Kim and Jace Henry, and Professor Yan Li co-authored "High-temperature piezoelectric composites with enhanced structural integrity" published in Ceramics International. "This article reports a novel piezoelectric composite that can increase the temperature limit to 500°C while maintaining good structural integrity and mechanical performance. This innovative piezo-composite opens new possibilities for sensing, energy harvesting, and actuation in high-temperature environments," said Li.

Oct 17, 2024

3D Metastructure for Better Energy Harvesting

PhD students Huan Zhao and Xiangbei Liu, and Professor Yan Li co-authored "Architecture Design of High-Performance Piezoelectric Energy Harvester with 3D Metastructure Substrate" featured on the cover of Advanced Theory and Simulations. "We achieved a remarkable 13.26-fold improvement in PEH performance by replacing the traditional solid substrate with a 3D auxetic unit-cell metastructure," says Li.

Sep 12, 2024

Metamaterial Designs for Better Energy Harvesting

PhD students Ya Tang, Huan Zhao, and Xiangbei Liu, alum Jace Henry '24, and Professor Yan Li co-authored "Design of metamaterial thermoelectric generators for efficient energy harvesting," published in Energy Conversion and Management: X. The team demonstrated that thermoelectric generators (TEGs) incorporating metamaterial designs offer significant potential to enhance energy harvesting efficiency and broaden application possibilities. "By capturing waste heat from industrial processes, vehicles, and electronic devices, these metamaterial-based TEGs can contribute to energy conservation and promote environmental sustainability," says Li.

Aug 08, 2024

Machine Learning Leads to Novel Metamaterials

PhD students Xiangbei Liu, Huan Zhao, Ya Tang, and Professor Yan Li are co-authors of "Few-shot learning-based generative design of metamaterials with zero Poisson’s ratio" published in Materials & Design. The team used their novel approach to "identify a non-periodic metamaterial that does not experience lateral deformation when stretched or compressed—constructed by strategically arranging 64 common unit cells, each having either positive or negative Poisson’s ratios. This unique property is highly desirable for applications such as space actuators, tissue scaffolds, and gaskets," said Li.

Apr 25, 2024

Guarini 2024 Best Poster Award

PhD student Huan Zhao won the best poster award at Guarini's 2024 Graduate Student Poster Session. Titled "Additively Manufactured Metamaterial using Piezoceramic-Polymer Composite," the poster presented an innovative way to fabricate piezoelectric composites with improved mechanical, thermal, and electrical performance. This research—part of Yan Li's Group and supported by NASA—addresses the need for damage monitoring and process control for future in-space manufacturing.

Oct 19, 2023

Metastructure-Based Pressure Sensors

PhD students Huan Zhao and Julia Huddy, and professors Yan Li and Will Scheideler are coauthors of "Rational Design of 3D-Printed Metastructure-Based Pressure Sensors" published in Advanced Engineering Materials. The study found that metastructure architecture design can lead to substantial expansion of the sensing range. The practical application of this technology was demonstrated in an undergraduate ENGS 33 bridge project.

Research article figure of sensor design

Aug 24, 2023

Spidey-Sensors

PhD students Huan Zhao and Xiangbei Liu, and Professor Yan Li co-authored "The Role of Fracture Patterns on Crack-Based Strain Sensors" published in the Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology. Taking inspiration from the vibration detection mechanism employed by spiders, this computational study provides physical insights for the design and manufacturing of crack-based strain sensors across various applications.

Colorized image of 3D lattice structures

Jun 15, 2023

Better 3D-Printed Electrodes

PhD students Julia Huddy and Huan Zhao, research associate Anand Tiwari, and Professors Yan Li and William Scheideler authored "Graph Theory Design of 3D Printed Conductive Lattice Electrodes" published in Advanced Materials Technologies. This work aims to model the electrical behavior of 3D lattice structures to guide the design of 3D printed electrodes for electrochemical device applications.