Rate My Professor Jian Cao

Professor Cao’s research centers on innovative manufacturing processes and systems, with emphasis on deformation-based processes, laser additive and subtractive manufacturing, characterization of material behavior under manufacturing conditions, and integration of numerical simulations, machine learning, sensors, and design methodologies to enhance process performance and part properties. Her laboratory has pioneered equipment for dieless sheet forming, microforming, and additive manufacturing, contributing to advancements in energy-efficient manufacturing, surface engineering, and distributed production. She has published over 500 technical articles, including approximately 300 journal papers, 10 book chapters, and 20 patents. Key works include “Opportunities and Challenges in Metal Forming for Lightweighting: Review and Future Work” (Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 2020) and “Towards Bi-metallic Injection Molds by Directed Energy Deposition” (Manufacturing Letters, 2021). Cao’s contributions are recognized by election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2022 and American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023, the SME Gold Medal and ASME Milton C. Shaw Manufacturing Research Medal in 2020, DoD Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship in 2019, and fellowships in AAAS, ASME, CIRP, and SME. She has delivered over 180 invited talks, chairs committees for ASME and CIRP, and leads research thrusts for the NSF Engineering Research Center on Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing (HAMMER).