Dr. Mengying Liu ’21, former graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, has started a tenure-track faculty position at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. She is an assistant professor of engineering in the Physics and Engineering Department.
Liu grew up in Baoji, China, where she was encouraged from an early age by her grade school teachers and family to pursue science. Her interest led her to study materials science and engineering at Tianjin University in Tianjin, China, where she received a bachelor’s degree.
Moving across the world and away from her family, Liu joined Texas A&M to begin her doctoral studies under the guidance of Dr. Michael Demkowicz, associate professor and director of graduate programs in the department.
“Studying in a foreign country is hard, but gladly I had my Aggie family and a very supportive Ph.D. advisor,” said Liu.
Her research focuses on the environmental degradation of metals, specifically hydrogen embrittlement in nickel alloys.
“Mengying's technical acumen, zeal for teaching and outreach and cross-cultural experience will enrich her academic community and advance her home institution," said Demkowicz.
Liu will be teaching a course on solid mechanics with a lab component.
“I want to be a professor because I want to help more students find their potential and be confident in themselves,” said Liu. “I think this is something truly meaningful.”