Forging New Paths in Laser-Metal Modeling
By Razil Fernandes, Written Communications Specialist
MSE graduate student Ching Chen
Luck and fate certainly played a role in Ching Chen’s educational trajectory. Ching says it is a coincidence that he worked on laser experiments during his master’s degree and is now modeling laser-metal interactions. Thankfully, UConn’s MSE graduate program has several faculty members who work on computational material modeling, the topic in which Ching wanted to specialize.
Ching earned his master’s degree in materials science and engineering from National Chiao Tung University in 2016. After working as a process engineer at TSMC in 2018, and then as a research assistant at National Chiao Tung University in 2019, Ching joined the Computational Materials and Mechanics Group (CMMG) as a graduate student (Ph.D. program) in the Department of Material Science and Engineering at UCONN in Fall 2019. He was offered a graduate assistantship during his first semester, which allowed him to engage directly with faculty as an international student. He selected Professor Dongare as his Ph.D advisor, joining his Group for Extreme Mechanics and Materials Science (GEMMS), where he explores the fundamental behavior of materials.
In the Dongare Research Group, Ching’s research focuses on modeling laser interactions with metallic materials ranging from atomic to micrometer scales. He says the most exciting aspect of GEMMS is: “we try to develop new computational tools to expand material modeling capabilities.” One specific aspect of this work is atomic-scale modeling, especially simulating how atoms move under different conditions, such as to understand how a metal melts in the presence of a laser.
Laser technology can be readily applied to several topics, from microstructures to manufacturing. His research offers insights that can complement experimental results, since computational models allow for predicting ion laser-induced phenomena ranging from atomic to experimental scales.
Collaborating with partners from Johns Hopkins University, who specialize in laser shock investigations, provided experimental perspectives to refine his simulations. Thus far, Ching is the primary author of two published papers and has received two awards from UConn MSE: the Teaching Excellence Award and the Doctoral Research Dissertation Award. The latter focused on how laser-driven flyer velocities depend on laser fluence.
Ching states, “The MSE graduate program is a fulfilling and intellectually stimulating experience.” He feels it has provided skills beyond just knowledge, such as effectively collaborating and presenting complex ideas. He plans to enter a career as a computational materials scientist and feels well-prepared for success in this field. “UConn MSE builds an environment of collaboration and open discussion in classes and labs. The faculty are approachable, and the diverse research groups encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.”
Beyond research, Ching has given back to MSE through his teaching experience. He worked as graduate research assistant for a course called Classical Atomic Scale Simulations in Materials Science and Engineering. “Assisting with this course, which combined theory, coding, and hands-on projects, was both challenging and rewarding. I enjoyed working with the students and learned how to explain complex theories and simulations to those unfamiliar with the field.”
Ching encourages MSE students to fully engage with their research and coursework while building connections within the MSE community. For instance, the Materials Research Society (MRS) Chapter at UConn brings together graduate students and faculty through various events including panel discussions. Many UConn MRS members also attend the Fall and Spring MRS conferences, to present their work and network with industry professionals in addition to fun social gatherings such as game nights.
Published: December 9, 2024
Categories: computation, graduate students, news
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