Latest News

4/2025

Congratulations to Lin on receiving the prestigious Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award from the Advanced Photon Source! This award recognizes his groundbreaking research on fundamental materials science challenges in wire-laser additive manufacturing using operando synchrotron X-ray techniques.

4/2025

The team successfully completed a high-energy X-ray diffraction experiment at the upgrade Advanced Photon Source

12/2024

Peter successfully fabricated the first functional battery in our lab. We aim to expand our research in the field of energy storage and contribute to building a sustainable world through advanced manufacturing technologies.

12/2024

Xingyang and Jiayun printed the first real metal part using our wire laser directed energy system. For the past decade, our team has focused on single-line printing process and coupon samples. This marks a major step forward in our engineering efforts.

11/2024

Our first experiment at upgraded Advanced Photon Source.

11/2024

Prof. Sun was listed as Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate.

08/2024

Arthur began teaching his first course at UVA – Introduction to Materials Science. 

08/2024

Congratulations to Lilly for receiving the Graduate Excellence in Materials Science (GEMS) Sapphire Award from The American Ceramic Society.

08/2024

The remodeling of our labs is complete.

07/2024

Congratulations to Kyle on receiving the Leadership & Service Award from Department of Mechanical Engineering.

05/2024

Prof. Sun returned to UVA for the hooding ceremony of Dr. Gao. Congratulations to Dr. Gao on receiving the Doris Kuhlman-Wilsdorf Outstanding Graduate Student Award, a prestigious honor presented by DMSE to the top PhD graduate in the graduating class.

03/2024

Dr. Ren completed his postdoc research with our team. Next step: staff scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

11/2023

Lin Successfully defended PhD Thesis. Next Step: postdoc at Argonne National Laboratory.

10/2023

After 12 years, Prof. Sun’s postdoc research turned into a unique new beamline at the APS.

09/2023

Prof. Sun returned to his Alma Mater after 14 years.

08/2023

Last team dinner in Charlottesville before relocating to Northwestern.

04/2023

Our last experiment at the APS before it was shutdown for upgrade.

03/2022

Congratulations to Lin on winning 1st Place in the TMS Best Paper Contest.

03/2022

Team celebrated Lilly’s birthday in Prof. Sun’s office at UVA.

10/2021

Prof. Sun and Dr. Ren returned to APS following one-year facility shutdown caused by the pandemic.

2021

First group photo at University of Virginia.

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Last Updated: April 29, 2025
Contact

Prof. Tao Sun
Department of Mechanical Engineering
2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL, 60208
taosun@northwestern.edu
1-847-467-2676