Junlan Wang

Biography

Junlan Wang is the Steve and Lynn Pratt Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China and her Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Before joining UW in 2008, she was a faculty member at the University of California, Riverside, and a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University.

Prof. Wang’s research and teaching span mechanics, materials, and manufacturing. Her work has been recognized by several awards, including the NSF CAREER Award; the Hetényi, Durelli, and Frocht Awards from the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM); the Beer and Johnston Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award from ASEE; and the UCR Bourns College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award.

She has held numerous leadership roles in professional societies, including Chair of the ASME Materials Division and General Conference Chair of the 2015 ASME Mechanics and Materials Conference. She is currently President of the Society for Experimental Mechanics (2025–2026) and Editor-in-Chief of the flagship journal Experimental Mechanics (2025–2029).

Education

• Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2002
• M.S., University of Science and Technology of China, 1997
• B.S., University of Science and Technology of China, 1994

Research Statement

Prof. Wang’s research focuses on experimental and mechanics-based approaches to understand the behavior, reliability, and failure of materials and structures across multiple length scales. Her group investigates the process-structure-properties of a wide range of materials from nano, bio to additively manufactured materials with applications in manufacturing, aerospace, and energy technologies. She has contributed extensively to the mechanics of thin films and interfaces, as well as laser–material interactions for adhesion, fracture, and interfacial characterization. Current research directions include precision laser-based manufacturing, reliability of materials in extreme environments, additive and advanced manufacturing, and data-enabled experimental mechanics. 

Select publications

1. I.G. McDonald, W.M. Moehlenkamp, D. Arola, J. Wang, “Residual Stresses in Cu/Ni Multilayer Thin Films Measured Using the Sin2ψ method”, Experimental Mechanics, 59(1), 111-120 (2019)
2. M. J. Miller, J. Wang, “Multilayer ITO/VO2/TiO2 thin films for control of solar and thermal spectra”, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 154, 88-93 (2016)
3. Z. Yang, J. Wang, “Coupled annealing temperature and layer thickness effect on strengthening mechanism of Ti/Ni multilayer thin films”, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 88, 72-82 (2016)
4. J. Lian, J. Wang, “Microstructural and Mechanical Anisotropy of Crab Cancer Magister Exoskeleton”, Experimental Mechanics, 54(2), 229-239 (2014)
5. W.-F. Yeh, J. Wang, “A force domain analog-to-digital converter applied to microscale tensile Test”, Experimental Mechanics, 53(5), 795-806 (2013)
6. G. Chow, R. S. Bedi, Y. Yan, J. Wang, “Zeolite as a wear-resistant coating”, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 151, 346-351 (2012)
7. P. Miller, L. Hu, and J. Wang, “Finite element simulation of cell-substrate decohesion by laser-induced stress waves”, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 3, 268-277 (2010)
8. L. Hu, P. Miller, J. Wang, “High strain-rate spallation and fracture of tungsten by laser-induced stress waves”, Materials Science and Engineering A, 504, 73-80 (2009)
9. J. Wang, J. Lian, J. R. Greer, W. D. Nix, and K.-S. Kim, “Size effect in contact compression of nano and microscale pyramid Structures”, Acta Materialia, 54(15), 3973-3982 (2006)
10. J. Wang, N.R. Sottos, R.L. Weaver, “Tensile and mixed-mode strength of a film-substrate interface under laser induced pulse loading”, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 52 (5), 999-1022 (2004)

Honors & awards

• M.M. Frocht Award, Society for Experimental Mechanics, 2020
• Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2020
• A.J. Durelli Award, Society for Experimental Mechanics, 2016
• Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Service, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2015
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2008
• Beer and Johnston Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award, American Society for Engineering Education, 2007
• Bourns College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award, UC Riverside, 2007
• University of California Regents’ Faculty Development Award, 2006
• University of California Regents’ Faculty Fellowship, 2004
• M. Hetenyi Award, Society for Experimental Mechanics, 2004
• Dissertation Completion Fellowship, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001-2002
• Thomas J. Dolan Graduate Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001
• Fred B. Seely Graduate Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1998
• Guang-Hua Outstanding Graduate Award, University of Science and Technology of China, 1995
• ELITE Experimental Science Award, University of Science and Technology of China, 1994

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