Kathy Lu
Professor
Academic interests
- Polymer derived ceramics and composites
- Materials degradation in harsh environments
- Machine learning and simulation in materials processing
- Data-driven materials processing and characterization
- Materials synthesis, processing, characterization, and fundamental studies
- Composites, hybrids, functional and structural materials, porous materials
- Ultra-high surface area materials
- Coatings for harsh environments and long-term uses
Honors and awards
- 2023: The American Ceramic Society’s Arthur L. Friedberg Ceramic Engineering Tutorial and Lecture Award
- 2022-27: Board of Trustees of the Science Museum of Virginia, governor's appointee
- 2022 : Fellow, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)
- 2022: Editorial Review Board Member, International Materials Reviews
- 2021-22: Board of Directors, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
- 2020: VEBELO Scientist Award
- 2020: Fellow, Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES)
- 2020: Fulbright Distinguished Chair Award
- 2017: Fellow, American Ceramic Society
- 2015: Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Research Excellence
- 2015: Associate Editor, Journal of the American Ceramic Society
- 2018-22: JOM Journal advisor and guest editor
- 2014: Editorial review board, Frontiers in Energy Research, fuel cells section
- 2012: College of Engineering Faculty Fellow Award, Virginia Tech
- 2011: Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- 2008: Karl Schwartzwalder Professional Achievement in Ceramic Engineering Award, American Ceramic Society
- 2005: Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
- 2001: P/M Metallography Competition Award, APMI International
Professional affiliations
- The American Ceramic Society
- Materials Research Society
- The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
Education
- B.S., ceramics, Tianjin University, China
- M.S., ceramics, Tianjin University, China
- M.S., materials science and engineering, Ohio State University
- Ph.D., materials science and engineering, Ohio State University