Jessica Zhang
George Tallman Ladd and Florence Barrett Ladd Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Courtesy Appointment, Biomedical Engineering
Jessica Zhang is the George Tallman Ladd and Florence Barrett Ladd Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She received her B.Eng. in Automotive Engineering and M.Eng. in Engineering Mechanics from Tsinghua University, China, and M.Eng. in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, and Ph.D. in Computational Engineering and Sciences from the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (now Oden Institute), the University of Texas at Austin.
Zhang’s research interests include computational geometry, isogeometric analysis, finite element method, data-driven modeling, image processing, mesh generation, and their applications in computational biomedicine, materials science and engineering. Zhang’s group develops novel algorithms on biomodeling at molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ scales, and explores applications in various application fields. She has published over 200 technical articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
Zhang is the recipient of Simons Visiting Professorship from Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach of Germany, US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, NSF CAREER Award, Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and US Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM) Gallagher Young Investigator Award. At CMU, she received David P. Casasent Outstanding Research Award, George Tallman Ladd and Florence Barrett Ladd Research Professorship, Clarence H. Adamson Career Faculty Fellow in Mechanical Engineering, Donald L. & Rhonda Struminger Faculty Fellow, and George Tallman Ladd Research Award. She is a Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) at Drexel, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), Solid Modeling Association and USACM.
Using Computational Design to Improve Modeling
Image Modeling for Biomedical Organs
Education
2005 Ph.D., Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, University of Texas, Austin
2002 Master of Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, University of Texas, Austin
1999 Master of Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University
1996 Bachelor of Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Tsinghua University
Research Interests
- additive manufacturing
- bioengineering
- biomedical engineering
- computational engineering
- computational geometry
- computational modeling
- computer-aided design (CAD)
- design and manufacturing
- digital twins
- human health
- image processing
- machine learning
- mechanical analysis
- mechanics
- medical devices
- multiscale organ simulation
Media mentions
AIMBE
Zhang elected to AIMBE College of Fellow chair-elect
MechE’s Jessica Zhang has been elected chair-elect of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)’s College of Fellows.
SIAM
Zhang named SIAM Fellow
MechE’s Jessica Zhang has been selected as a Class of 2023 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) Fellow for exemplary research and outsanding service to the community.
SIAM
Zhang delivered plenary lecture at SIAM International Meshing Roundtable Workshop
MechE’s Jessica Zhang was an invited plenary speaker at the SIAM International Meshing Roundtable Workshop on March 6 - 9, 2023 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. She presented her latest research on modeling traffic jam and growth process of neurons using isogeometric analysis and physics-informed neural network.
Clarivate Analytics
Zhang paper recognized as top-cited article
According to Citation data from Clarivate Analytics, Mech’s Jessica Zhang’s paper “Tuned Hybrid Nonuniform Subdivision Surfaces with Optimal Convergence Rates” is recognized as one of the top cited articles published in an issue of International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering between January 1, 2021 through December 15, 2022.
SIAM
Zhang elected Program Director, SIAM Activity Group
MechE’s Jessica Zhang was elected program director of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Activity Group on Geometric Design.
Zhang presents research at International Conference on Isogeometric Analysis
MechE’s Jessica Zhang was a plenary speaker of the 10th International Conference on Isogeometric Analysis in Banff, Canada on November 6-9, 2022.
CMU Engineering
Modeling the growth process of neurons
Jessica Zhang’s lab has furthered its research with IGA analysis and accurately modeled the growth of a neuron.
International Workshop on Combinatorial Image Analysis
Zhang delivered a virtual keynote at IWCIA 2022
MechE’s Jessica Zhang delivered a virtual keynote at the International Workshop on Combinatorial Image Analysis on July 15. She presented her latest research on machine learning enhanced simulation and PDE-constrained optimization for material transport control in neurons.
CMU Engineering
Modeling neuron traffic jams in the brain
MechE’s Jessica Zhang and Angran Li have developed a new way to model material transport regulation in neurons using cutting-edge parametrization technology and isogeometric analysis. This new, much more detailed modeling will help provide insights on “neural traffic jams,” which contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
Zhang delivers two keynotes
MechE’s Jessica Zhang recently delivered two virtual keynotes: CMBE22 and CVPR 2022.
ECCOMAS Congress 2022
Zhang delivers lecture at ECCOMAS
MechE’s Jessica Zhang delivered a semi-plenary lecture at the 8th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering (ECCOMAS Congress 2022) in Oslo, Norway on June 5-9, 2022. Zhang was also invited to be a mentor in the ECCOMAS Young Investigators Career Forum, during which young researchers have the opportunity to interact in small groups with scientists at different career stages.
USACM
Zhang elected to USACM Executive Council
MechE’s Jessica Zhang was elected to the office of Secretary-Treasurer of the U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM) Executive Council. It is a six-year commitment to be involved as an officer of USACM, the largest association in computational mechanics in the US.