Dr. Hang Z. Yu is an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Virginia Tech. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Peking University in 2007 and his PhD degree in materials science and engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013. Prof. Yu is the recipient of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Young Faculty Award. At Virginia Tech, the primary interest of Prof. Yu’s research group lies in manufacturing science, with an emphasis on advanced materials processing and Industry 4.0. As a research pioneer of additive friction stir deposition, Prof. Yu is exploring multiple facets of the process, including integration of in situ monitoring and physics simulation for process control (temperature, force and torque, material flow, and distortion), design and synthesis of hybrid materials with innovative 3D internal structures, as well as use of the technology for structural repair, selective-area cladding, and materials recycling and upcycling.