Shujian Chen

Dr. Shujian Chen is a Lecturer in Structural Engineering in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland, within the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from Monash University, awarded in 2011 and 2015, respectively. Chen commenced his research on nanomaterial-modified cement and concrete in 2011, dedicating efforts to developing and adapting new nano/micro-scale characterisation and simulation techniques for innovative cement and concrete-based construction materials through emerging technologies. Since 2014, he has extended his research to incorporate 3D printing technology in the advanced manufacturing of multifunctional, high-performance cement-based materials. His career at the University of Queensland builds on prior affiliations, including as an Adjunct Research Associate in the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University.

Chen's research specializations include nanoengineering and carbon-based nanomaterials for efficient and sustainable production, manufacturing, and design of cement and concrete-based materials and structures. He focuses on developing carbon-based nanoengineered cement to reduce Portland cement usage, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions, advanced nano-characterisation and AI for understanding cement and concrete behavior at the nanoscale, and nanoengineering combined with 3D printing for novel lightweight multifunctional materials capable of withstanding extreme earthquake and impact events, offering twice the strength and enhanced load-carrying capacity of traditional counterparts. He has secured major funding through the Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2019-2021) for the project 'New generation foam concrete using 3D printing and nano-engineering' and contributes to the ARC Discovery Project (2023-2026) 'Creating pH-sensitive self-healing concrete using sludge waste for sewers,' administered by the University of South Australia. His scholarly impact is evidenced by 62 works, including key publications such as 'Damage-tolerant material design motif derived from asymmetrical rotation' (Nature Communications, 2022), 'Direct 2D cement-nanoadditive deposition enabling carbon-neutral hydrogen from natural gas' (Nano Energy, 2022), 'Multi-fidelity design and optimization framework of damage-tolerant fiber-reinforced composite structures via CNN-assisted homogenization' (International Journal of Structural Integrity, 2026), 'New classification, historical developments, technology readiness level and application conditions of self-healing concrete technologies' (Journal of Building Engineering, 2025), 'Macro-fine-micro mechanism of cellulose nanofiber modified gangue cemented filling material' (Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2025), and 'Microscopic damage and strengthening mechanisms of honeycomb-structured scaffold reinforced cementitious materials' (Construction and Building Materials, 2025).

Professional Email: shujian.chen@uq.edu.au