Introduction
Welcome to the homepage of Dr. Yayue Pan’s Laboratory! Please scroll down to learn more…
Pan Laboratory
News
2025: Students Caleb Smith and Yuri Labuca began their 2025 NASA Summer Internship at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. NASA’s internship programs provide training, mentoring, and career development opportunities while working with the best science, engineering, financial, information technology and business minds in the world.
2025: Students Juan Alanis, Anupam Deshpande, and Daniel Brudniak presented their Spring 2025 (January–May) research progress to the incoming Summer 2025 cohort during the Summer Orientation at the UIC Engineering Innovations Building, Chicago, IL.
2025: Prof. Yayue Pan was invited to attend the DARPA BTO Biomechanical Space Structures Workshop, where her team presented research ideas.
2025: Prof. Yayue Pan visited Ames Research Center to deliver a Division Seminar titled “UIC NASA MIRO Center for In-Space Manufacturing: Recycling and Regolith Processing.” The visit aimed to disseminate research outcomes and foster connections with Ames researchers.
2025: Prof. Yayue Pan and Prof. Jida Huang attended the ASME Annual Aerospace Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference (SSMD 2025) in Houston, TX. Prof. Huang presented “Inverse Design of Curved Mechanical Metamaterials with Latent Diffusion” to share research contributions and engage with the broader community. Conference link
2025: Student Caleb Smith was featured in a spotlight article on the University of Illinois Chicago’s Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering website for his participation in the upcoming NASA internship at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and continued enrollment in the CISM-R2 program. UIC MIE News: Graduate Headed to NASA
2025: Student Juan Alanis began his summer internship at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, IL. The internship supports collaborative research partnerships and strengthens the connection between institutional research and external scientific communities.
2025: Student Caleb Smith and Yuri Labuca, along with Raguez A. Taha, were awarded NASA Summer Internships at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL. The opportunity encourages student engagement, supports collaborative research, and connects academic research with the broader aerospace community. Congratulations!!!
2025: Students Caleb Smith and Ahad Khan presented a poster titled “In-Space PAL Polymer Composite Recycling & 3D Printing” at the 2025 UIC Undergraduate Research Forum, part of UIC Research Week. The presentation showcased their research contributions and fostered engagement with the broader academic community. UIC Undergraduate Research Forum
2025: Students Yuri Labuca and Argjent Ashiku presented a poster titled “Presentation NEEDED” at the 2025 UIC Undergraduate Research Forum, held during UIC Research Week. Their participation highlighted ongoing student-led research and contributed to academic dialogue across disciplines. UIC Undergraduate Research Forum
2025: Students Caleb Smith and a team of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering students were featured in a UIC MIE department article for building and testing a celestial landing device with a drop test at UIC’s High Bay Structures Laboratory. This hands-on project is part of an initiative to highlight student innovation and connect research efforts with the broader community. UIC MIE News: Capstone NASA Project
2025: Prof. Yayue Pan, along with Prof. Didem Ozevin, Prof. Jida Huang, and Prof. Lin Li, conducted in-person interviews across UIC to recruit motivated and qualified applicants for the Summer Internship Program, aligning student interests with ongoing research under CISM-R2.
2025 : Prof. Yayue Pan delivered a presentation on the UIC NASA MIRO Center for In-Space Manufacturing: Recycling and Regolith Processing (CISM-R2) at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, facilitating discussions on current research advancements and building professional connections.
2025: Prof. Yayue Pan, Prof. Didem Ozevin and Prof. Jida Huang along with student Juan Alanis, Program Assistant Tandra Giles, and faculty/staff David He, Mohammad Ghashami, Carmen Lilley and Hy Kim participated in a two-day visit to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, delivering invited talks, exchanging research ideas and engaging with MSFC scientists and engineers to showcase CISM‑R2 research and foster collaboration.
2025: Prof. Yayue Pan was invited to present “Direct Digital Manufacturing of Multi-material Structures” at the Mechanical Science & Engineering Department, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Urbana, IL.
2025: Program Assistant Tandra Giles, students Juan Alanis, and Anupam Deshpande represented the CISM-R2 team at the UIC Spring 2025 Technology and Engineering Career Fair where they showcased ongoing research, attracted talented students, and provided opportunities for networking, mentorship, and recruitment into research roles.
2024: Prof. Yayue Pan was invited to present “Additive Manufacturing of Functional Objects with Structural and Material Complexity” at the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The presentation was part of the Smart Manufacturing Series, aiming to discuss recent advancements, challenges, and promote professional networking.
2024: Prof. Yayue Pan and Prof. Jida Huang presented the NASA MIRO Center for In-Space Manufacturing: Recycling and Regolith Processing (CISM-R2) program poster at the Planetary Science Technology Symposium held at Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH. They shared insights for networking and research dissemination. More details: https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/space/pesto/outreach/planetary-science-technology-symposium/
2024: Dr. Yayue Pan (PI), Dr. Jida Huang (Co-PI), Dr. Lin Li (Co-PI), and Dr. Didem Ozevin (Co-PI) received a $4.65 Million research grant from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), titled ‘Center for In-Space Manufacturing: Recycling and Regolith Processing’. Congratulations!!
2024: Mr. Caleb Isaiah Smith, Mr. Ahad Khan, and Mr. Cesar Fuentes received the UIC Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award to conduct research projects in Pan Lab in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. Congratulations!
2024: Yayue received the 2024 ASME Chao and Trigger Young Manufacturing Engineer Award for her contributions to advancing multi-material additive manufacturing science. Congratulations!
2024: This summer, we are hosting seven GPIP summer interns including Caleb Isaiah Smith, Gabriela Venegas, Mohammad Walweel, Ahad Khan, Alice Shen, Yaksh Patel, and Atulya Prasad. Welcome!
2024: Yayue received an REU supplement award from National Science Foundation, to recruit and train underrepresented undergraduate student.
2024: Dr. Yayue Pan (PI) and Dr. Jida Huang (Co-PI) received a research grant from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), titled ‘Discovery of Structure-Property Correlation of Alloys with Physics-Guided Deep Learning’. Congratulations!
2024: Yayue is invited to speak on the panel ‘Emerging Areas in Micro and Nano Manufacturing’ at the 2024 World Congress on Micro and Nano Manufacturing.
2024: Mr. Juan Alanis and Mr. Cesar Fuentes received the UIC Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award to conduct research projects in Pan Lab in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. Congratulations!
2023: Yayue is invited to give a talk at 2023 NNCI NANO + Additive Manufacturing Summit.
2023: Three GPIP summer interns, Mr. Sufyan Syed, Mr. Cesar Fuentes, and Ms. Julia Huimei Nosky, joined Pan laboratory. Welcome!
2023: Dr. Ketki M. Lichade successfully defended her PhD thesis in May. She will join the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University at Buffalo as an Assistant Professor starting from August 2023. Congratulations to Ketki!
2023: Yayue received a sub-award from Northwestern University. She will collaborate with Dr. Wei Chen at Northwestern University to work on field-assisted photopolymerization additive manufacturing processes and productions of programmable material systems. Congratulations!
2023: Yayue has been named a 2022 UIC Researcher of the Year Award recipient. She is one of two recipients of the Rising Star Award in Natural Sciences and Engineering from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and the Office of Technology Management at UIC. Congratulations!
2023: Yayue received an REU supplement award from National Science Foundation, to recruit and train underrepresented undergraduate student.
2023: Drs. Jida Huang (PI) and Yayue Pan (Co-PI) received a research grant from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), titled ‘Optimally Tailored Architected Materials for Lightweight and High-Strength Part Design and Manufacturing’. Congratulations!
2022: Ketki received the Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research ($600 seed grant) from Sigma Xi Grants. Congratulations!
2022: Yayue has been selected by UIC as the nominee for the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists in the Physical Sciences & Engineering category. UIC may submit up to 1 nominee in this category. Congratulations and keep fingers crossed!
2022: Ketki received the Provost’s Graduate Research Award ($5000 research fund) from UIC Graduate College. She is the only awardee from College of Engineering. Congratulations!
2022: Yayue gave an invited seminar in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Northern Illinois University.
2022: Dr. Yizhou Jiang, who graduated from our lab in 2021, will join the Aerospace Engineering Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an Assistant Professor starting from August 2022. Congratulations to Yizhou!
2022: Anupam Ajit Deshpande joined our group as a PhD student. Congratulations!
2022: Ketki has been selected to receive the Faydor Litvin Honor Award from UIC Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. The award carries a one-time $1500 honorarium. Congratulations!
2022: Ketki received the Deiss/Award for Graduate Research ($3000 seed grant) from UIC Graduate College. Congratulations!
2022: Yayue gave an invited seminar in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Central Florida.
2022: Yayue joined the Editorial Board of ASME Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering as an Associate Editor.
2022: Ketki received the Graduate Student Council Travel Award and the Student Presenter Award from UIC Graduate College for presenting her paper in 2022 SME NAMRC conference. Congratulations!
2021: Yayue gave an invited seminar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Federal University Of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
2021: Dr. Erina Joyee received Outstanding Thesis/Dissertation Award from the UIC Graduate College for her Ph.D. dissertation entitled “Magnetic Field-assisted Stereolithography for Productions of Multi-material Objects with Surface Structures.” Congratulations!
2021: Yayue gave an invited seminar in the Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California.
2021: Yayue started to serve on the Executive Committee (role: Secretary) in the ASME Computers and Information in Engineering Division.
2021: Yayue started to serve on the Technical Committee (role: Chair) of the Additive Manufacturing Track in ASME Manufacturing Engineering Division.
2021: Yinong Chen and Xinnian Wang joined our group as PhD students. Welcome!
2021: Ketki received the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Student Travel Award to attend the SME NAMRC49 conference. Congratulations!
2021: Dr. Erina B. Joyee, a Ph.D. student who just graduated from our lab, will join the Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as an Assistant Professor starting from August 2021. Congratulations to Erina!
2021: Erina received 2020-21 COE Graduate Student Award for Exceptional Research Promise ($500 cash prize) from College of Engineering of University of Illinois at Chicago. Congratulations!
2021: Dr. Yizhou Jiang, a Ph.D. student who just graduated from our lab, will join Prof. Yong Chen’s group in Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California as a postdoctoral research associate starting from January 2021. Congratulations to Yizhou!
2020: Yayue received 2020 ASME CIE TC leadership award. Congratulations!
2020: Yayue was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Congratulations!
2020: Dr. Malek Nofal, graduated this summer, will join Apple. Congratulations!
2020: Yayue received an NSF supplemental award to expand the breadth of the current project with Dr. Alexander Yarin at UIC through exploration and implementation of Data Science approaches. Congratulations!
2020: Yayue received an NSF supplemental award to expand the breadth of the current collaborative project with Dr. Shan Hu at Iowa State University through exploration and implementation of Data Science approaches. Congratulations!
2020: Mr. Kevin Sanchez Amay received his M.S. degree and got hired by M. Holland. Congratulations!
2019: Yayue gave a seminar at Depaul University, Chicago, Illinois.
2019: Erina received the Provost Graduate Research Award from graduate college of University of Illinois at Chicago ($5000 seed grant). Congratulations!
2019: Dr. Lu Lu, graduated from Pan’s group this summer, will join GE Healthcare. Congratulations!
2019: Yizhou defended his PhD preliminary exam. Congratulations!
2019: Erina received Faydor Litvin Graduate Award from Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering of University of Illinois at Chicago ($1500 scholarship). Congratulations!
2019: This webpage hasn’t been updated for a while. It’s mainly because Yayue gave birth to a daughter (2nd kid!) in the fall:-).
2019: Yayue received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the College of Engineering at UIC. Congratulations!
2019: Ms. Ketki Lichade joined our group as a Ph.D. student. Welcome!
2019: Yilong joined our group as a Ph.D. student. Welcome!
2019: Yayue will serve as vice chair of MED Additive Manufacturing scientific committee in 2019-2021 academic year. Congratulations!
2018: Haiyang defended his PhD thesis and will join Bosch. Congratulations!
2018: Mr. Alexander Bulger, an undergraduate student working in Pan’s lab, received UIC Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award. Congratulations!
2018: Yayue gave a seminar in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering, at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
2018: Yayue will serve as chair of CIE-CAPPD program scientific committee in 2018 academic year.
2018: Our paper, titled “Elevated‐Temperature 3D Printing of Hybrid Solid‐State Electrolyte for Li‐Ion Batteries“, in collaboration with Dr. Reza Shahbazian-Yassar’s group was published in the journal Advanced Materials. Congratulations!
2018: Yayue (PI) and Dr. Alexander L. Yarin (Co-PI) received a National Science Foundation grant, titled “Programming Ink Deposition Dynamically: The New Science of Direct Ink Writing”. Congratulations!
2018: Ms. Ketki Mahadeo Lichade and Mr. Kevin X. S. Amay joined our group as master students for thesis. Welcome!
2018: Mr. Raheel Jafarani, Ms. Ana Sayoury, and Mr. Kevin X. S. Amay, undergraduate students working in Pan’s lab, received UIC Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award. Congratulations!
2017: Mr. Jose Luis Salinas, an undergraduate student in Pan lab, received UIC Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award. Congratulations!
2017: Yayue received the 2017 Faculty Research Award from the College of Engineering at UIC.
2017: Yayue (PI) received a National Science Foundation grant, titled “Collaborative Research: Acoustic Field-Assisted Stereolithography for Multi-Material Additive Nanomanufacturing” in collaboration with Dr. Shan Hu at Iowa State University.
2017: Yayue received the Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer (OYME) Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).
2017: Erina Joyee joined our group as a Ph.D. student. Welcome!
2017: Our recent publication “Study of separation force in constrained surface projection stereolithography” in Rapid Prototyping Journal is covered by 3DPrintingIndustry news at: https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/stuck-sla-3d-printing-new-research-holds-promise-big-area-additive-manufacturing-106606/
2017: Yayue was invited as a guest speaker of Manufacturing Interest Group (MFIG) seminar series, in the Department of Mechanical Science & Engineering, at UIUC.
2016: Yayue (PI) received a grant “Real-time Monitoring, Analysis and Remote Diagnosis of Automotive Systems” from EP Equipment Ltd.
2016: Yayue opened a new undergraduate course on Additive Manufacturing: “ENGR 111: Engineering Practicum in Additive Manufacturing” in Fall 2016.
2016: Yayue (Co-PI) received a National Science Foundation grant ” Collaborative Research: Environmental Sustainability of Additive Manufacturing Processes: Bridging Geometry and Life Cycle Inventory” with Dr. Lin Li (PI).
2016: Abhishek defended his master thesis on 4/19. Congratulations to him!
2016: Lu received a NSF travel award from NAMRC/MSEC 2016 Conference. Congratulations to her!
2016: Yayue (PI) received a National Science Foundation grant “Layerless Additive Manufacturing of 3D Objects with Wide Solid Cross Sections” with Dr. Jie Xu (Co-PI).
2016: Haiyang received a NSF travel award from ICOMM 2016. Congratulations to him!
2016: Yayue (Co-PI) received a MIE Battery Cluster grant “Advanced Manufacturing for Electric Vehicle Battery” with Dr. Lin Li (PI) and Dr. Carmen Lilley (Co-PI).
2016: Chintan defended his master thesis on 3/9. Congratulations to him!
2015: Mukund defended his master thesis on 11/19. Congratulations to him!
2015: Yayue gave a seminar in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UIC.
2015: Yayue and Elias received a “Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Award”. Elias joined our group as an undergraduate researcher. Welcome!
2015: Yayue joined the editorial board of Journal of Mechanical Engineering Research.
2015: Lu was given the Faydor Litvin Graduate Award. Congratulations to her!
2015: Anish got a position in Caterpillar Inc.. Congratulations to him!
2015: Lu and Malek joined our group as Ph.D. students. Welcome!
2015: Yayue (PI) received a Manufacturing Research Center grant from All Cell Technologies, LLC, for project “Additive Manufacturing of Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage Applications”.
2015: Yayue (PI) received a COE Seed Fund for project “Direct Digital Manufacturing for Rational Design of Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System” with Dr. Linninger.
2015: Yayue (co-PI) received a Chancellor Research Fund for project “New Materials for 3D Printing of Flow Reactors: A New Parameter for Reaction Optimization” with Dr. Mohr.
2014: Yayue was invited to give a talk in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University in Dec. 2014.
2014: Yayue was invited to give a talk at the UIC Imaging Mini-Symposium in the Neurophsychiatric Institute in Nov. 2014.
2014: Yayue opened a new graduate course on Additive Manufacturing “ME/IE 594 “Advanced Topics in 3D Printing/ Additive Manufacturing” for the Fall 2014 semester!