Rate My Professor Terry Xu

Terry T. Xu is Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Programs in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's William States Lee College of Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University in 2004, M.Phil. in Mechanical Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 1998, and B.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering from Shanghai University, P.R. China, in 1995. Dr. Xu has been a faculty member in the department since 2004, progressing through the ranks to her current leadership position where she oversees graduate programs, ensures transparency and high standards in Ph.D. qualifying examinations, and provides individualized mentoring to support student academic and professional success.

Dr. Xu's research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of low-dimensional nanostructures, mechanical property studies of low-dimensional nanostructures, and functional nanocomposites. The Xu Group specializes in one-dimensional nanomaterials, particularly boron-based materials, examining their mechanical properties and thermoelectric characteristics while developing advanced nanocomposites. Her research efforts have been funded by the National Science Foundation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, and the UNC Charlotte Junior Faculty award. She is affiliated with the North Carolina Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle and Electrification Research Center (BATT CAVE). In recognition of her outstanding leadership in graduate education, particularly in maintaining a thriving program during challenging periods, Dr. Xu received the Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award from the UNC Charlotte Graduate School in 2024. Earlier, she was selected as an NSF CAREER Award recipient for her promising research trajectory in mechanical engineering.