Dr. Tianzhi Yang
Questionnaire to the Research Fellow
My field of research is fascinating. To laymen I would explain it in the following comprehensible manner:
My research topic focuses on meta-materials, which are man-made materials with extraordinary properties not available in the natural world. Meta-materials have exciting applications such as invisible cloaking, enhanced sensing and imaging. My research project with Professor Peter Hagedorn at TU Darmstadt is acoustic meta-materials, we will manipulate sound with meta-material samples and explore more exciting acoustic phenomena and applications.
My most important success in research to date is…
When I worked as a visiting scholar in Singapore in 2015, I developed the first invisible sensor in the world. Together with my cooperators, we fabricated a camouflaging shell that can hide anything that emits heat or electricity. It can help a soldier doing reconnaissance in the dead of night, or an electricity or power grid. This work is published on Advanced Materials and was reported by newspapers.
I’ve chosen the TU Darmstadt because of…
the fact that it is one of the leading research universities in the world. TU Darmstadt is the top engineering school in Germany. My mentor, Professor Hagedorn, is a world-famous expert of vibration and dynamics, our research interests are nicely matched.
If I would be a student today, …
I would read more broad textbooks in the library, including different fields, such as materials engineering, chemical, optical and physics. A broad knowledge will lay the basis of my further research.
The perfect balance to a stressful working day…
for me is to stay with my family; it is the best way for enhancing the research motivation. Another effective way for me is to watch a science fiction movie, which releases my research pressure, sometimes it even inspires me for a new idea.
With the help of my host in Darmstadt I would like to…
define more new mechanical metamaterials and applications. We together will hopefully create new smart devices and unveil the mechanisms from the point of view of dynamics and mechanics. As an associate professor from China, I will also learn from him how to be a successful scientist and lead a research group.
Questionnaire for the host
Guest of: Prof. Dr. Peter Hagedorn
Department: Mechanical Engineering, fnb (Prof. Schäfer), Dynamics and Vibrations Group
Your guest favourably impressed you by…
Dr. Yang impressed me by his knowledge, his broad research interests and his innovative ideas.
You, your team and the TU Darmstadt benefit from your guest’s …
The presence of foreign young researchers like Dr. Yang is an important asset to any research group, contributing to the intentionality of the group. The group will certainly benefit from the many lively discussions we will have with Dr. Yang.
