We aim to utilise these opportunities - interview with Prof. Yuyuan Zhao from Ningbo University of Technolgy

Yuyuan Zhao, professor of Ningbo University of Technology, and former Head of Department at Liverpool University, visited Professor Imre Orbulov, Dean of BME Faculty of Mechanical Engineering during his visit in Budapest at Feb 6., 2025. 

How do you like Budapest? Is it your first time here?

Actually, this is my second time. The first time when I visited Budapest, was 15 years ago, as a tourist that time. With my family, we travelled from Austria by train, to Budapest, for a brief visit, and then went to Czech Republic. This time we are staying here for 3 days. The weather is brilliant, also the buildings and the river Danube.

Left: Professor Yuyuan Zhao, right: Professor Imre Norbert Orbulov

Please, tell us about your research field!

I research porous metals, metal matrix syntactic foams and powder metallurgy, so two of my three research fields are aligned with Professor Imre Orbulov, Dean of The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, with whom we worked alongside of each other. We frequently review each other’s papers as well.

After a PhD in Oxford, I was a post-doc at Birmingham University, then I moved to Liverpool University, where I worked for 24 years as a professor.  Two years ago I joined Ningbo University of Technology and set up a laboratory there.

Are you planning a joint project with Professor Imre Orbulov?

Yes, we have already started collaborating with each other. The Hungarian and Chinese governments have some funding schemes for joint projects, and we would like to utilise these opportunities to strengthen our research collaborations in the field of syntactic foams for impact energy absorption applications. I also met Professor Péter János Szabó, Head of Department of Material Science and Technology.

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Professor Yuyuan Zhao  graduated with a BEng in 1985 and MSc in 1988 from Dalian University of Technology, China, and a DPhil in Materials from University of Oxford  in 1996. He was a Lecturer at Dalian University of Technology from 1988 to 1991 and a Research Fellow at University of Birmingham from 1995 to 1998. He worked at University of Liverpool from 1998 to 2023 as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader, Professor and Head of Department. He joined Ningbo University of Technology, China, in 2023. He pioneered the Sintering and Dissolution Process (SDP) for manufacturing aluminium foam, which inspired the subsequent developments of several powder-based space-holder methods for manufacturing metal foams. Professor Zhao is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, UK. He was awarded the Ivor Jenkins Medal in 2015 for an outstanding contribution to powder metallurgy in developing and commercialising innovative powder based technologies for manufacturing metal foams. His current research is focused on the manufacture, characterisation and applications of porous metals and metal matrix syntactic foams. His hobby is badminton.

 

László Benesóczky

PhD student from China researches microporous metal foams at BME

Du Wanrong, PhD student of BME

Interview with Du Wanrong, alumna of Xi'an Polytechnic University, who chose BME as a location of her master’s and PhD studies, and her thesis supervisor, Csilla Wiener PhD, associate professor of BME Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Material Science and Engineering.

Where did you study before?

Du Wanrong: I graduated on BSc level at Xi'an Polytechnic University (He Haijun, PhD graduate of BME, whom we interviewed before, also graduated there).

Why did you choose to attend BME’s PhD program?

Du Wanrong: I studied at BME on MSc level, and I wanted to continue studying after my master’s degree, and I really wanted to become a PhD student.  I checked the opportunities and the possible supervisors’ publication list at Material Science and Technology Department, and I found Csilla Wiener, my future supervisor. I told her that I would like to have her as my PhD supervisor, which Csilla happily accepted. She is someone I really like to work with: I admire her dedication to research; she encourages me to work in engineering as a woman. Teaching is enjoyable for her, and she always encourages me. She often draws my attention to lectures and workshops, helps me build connections, and to do my best, which I really appreciate.

What is your PhD topic?

Csilla Wiener PhD: Wanrong’s topic is microporous metal foams. These cellular materials have significant potential applications. For example, copper foams can be used as high capacity batteries due to their high internal surface, while zinc foams are prospective materials for biodegradable implants. The advantage of degradable materials is that they eliminate the need for secondary surgical intervention to remove the implant. Our goal is to be able to produce such foams in Hungary. The manufacturing and characterization of these foams is Wanrong's main task.

Du Wanrong PhD student and her supervisor, Csilla Wiener PhD, associate professor,
BME Faculty of Mechanical Engineerinng

Is it easy to live in Hungary compared to China?

Du Wanrong: China is totally different. At first, English was difficult, and as I came here to attend my master’s programme, I was shy to talk with my international classmates.  Luckily, everyone was very friendly in BME’s international classroom, and professors were also kind and patient. They knew that my English was not sufficient, and explained in details what I missed.

One of the tasks I had to adapt to was cooking. I was not used to cooking in China, but I learned how to cook for myself.

Do you have any hobbies?

Du Wanrong: I have a lot of hobbies, like hiking, swimming, skating.

What are your plans for the future?

Du Wanrong: At the beginning, I had no idea, but now if I have a chance, I would like to continue doing research, e.g. in a post-doc position.

László Benesóczky