Recent mechanical engineering and applied mathematics graduate Ruohan Xu ’23, G’24, has received the Norma Slepecky Undergraduate Prize for his research activities. Xu received the award from the Women in Science and Engineering Review Committee and was nominated by his advisor, Zhao Qin, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS).
Slepecky Undergraduate Research Prize winner Ruohan Xu, center, is pictured with Zhao Qin, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in ECS.
In memory of the late auditory neuroanatomist and ϲ professor Norma Slepecky, the award is given to an ECS student who demonstrates a passion for research. Xu’s continued contributions embody Slepecky’s ambitious spirit and uphold her legacy as a pioneer in bioengineering.
In his first research project, Xu focused on enhancing mask design through image-based surface morphing, and his findings were published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials in 2022. In his second project, he focused on the growing environment of mycelium composites for the application to infrastructure.
With two research projects and a journal publication under his belt, Xu is also an active member of the University community, currently serving as president of the Chinese Union ϲ and former vice president of the University’s Robotics Club. Xu is continuing his studies at ϲ, working towards a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering.
Story by Kwami Maranga
