Hao Chen, a 2022 undergraduate student from our School, recently completed a four-month Visiting Scholar program (July to November 2025) at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) at Duke University. Utilizing this valuable international exchange opportunity, Hao deeply immersed himself and actively participated in frontier research within the field of flexible electronic devices.
Hao’s research primarily focused on key fabrication technologies for liquid metal stretchable circuits. Concurrently, he undertook systematic exploration and study into optimizing the performance of Vertical Interconnect Accesses (VIAs) in flexible circuitry. This research holds significant academic reference value for enhancing the performance of future wearable electronics and soft robotics. Through dedicated efforts and experimental exploration, Hao successfully fabricated a functional stretchable circuit based on Eutectic Gallium-Indium (EGaIn), providing valuable practical experience for the continued development of such flexible circuitry.
During his tenure as a Visiting Scholar, Hao fully integrated into the Duke lab’s daily operations and academic activities. This experience not only significantly enhanced his scientific literacy, independent problem-solving capabilities, and engineering practice skills but also effectively strengthened his cross-cultural communication abilities. He proactively engaged with scholars from around the world, exchanging cutting-edge research insights and discussing culture and life, achieving a comprehensive improvement in both academic and personal qualities.
This visiting scholar experience represents a crucial step in Hao’s academic journey and provides valuable international exchange and cooperation experience for students of the ZJU School of Materials Science and Engineering. The School encourages more students to utilize international programs to broaden their horizons, actively participate in frontier scientific research, and cultivate high-level, interdisciplinary talent with global vision and international competitiveness.
