Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Toronto, CA.
About
Highly accomplished Postdoctoral Fellow and Materials Scientist with expertise in multifunctional polymeric materials, advanced manufacturing, micro/nano-scale structures, and physics-informed machine learning. Proven innovator with a strong record of 15+ peer-reviewed publications and 2 patents, focused on developing next-generation materials for sustainable and high-performance applications. Adept at leading complex research projects from conception to publication, driving advancements in material science and engineering.
Work
University of Toronto
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Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
Toronto, ON, Canada
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Summary
Led cutting-edge research in advanced polymeric materials and micro/nano-scale structures, driving innovation in sustainable manufacturing and high-performance material development.
Highlights
Pioneered the development of novel bio-mimetic solid/porous alternating layered structures, inspired by butterfly wings, utilizing in situ visualization of confined foaming to advance understanding of complex material formation.
Discovered and elucidated toughening mechanisms in micro-layered polymer films through advanced in situ micro-tensile testing, contributing to the design of stronger and more durable polymer composites.
Developed a novel passive daytime radiative cooling material using micro-layered film and foam alternating structures, demonstrating significant potential for energy-efficient building applications.
Integrated physics-informed machine learning and image recognition for automatic in situ tracing of cell nucleation and growth in micro-layered film/foam structures, enhancing efficiency and precision in material characterization.
Secured two patents for innovative manufacturing processes, including a movable-block variable-differentiation-cross section extrusion die and a method for generating foamed microcapillary films with dual networks, demonstrating impactful contributions to intellectual property.
Education
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON, Canada
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PhDMechanical EngineeringGrade:
Zhejiang University
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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MScChemical Process EquipmentGrade:
Xi'an Jiaotong University
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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BScControl EngineeringGrade:
Publications
Butterfly wing microstructure inspired solid/porous alternating layered structures: In situ visualization of confined foaming.
Small
Zhao, J., Zhang, L., Lee, J. U., Sansone, N. D., Kim, J., Bazbaz, L., Al Faysal, A., & Lee, P. C. Butterfly wing microstructure inspired solid/porous alternating layered structures: In situ visualization of confined foaming. Small, 2025.
Toughening mechanism in micro-layered polymer films revealed by in situ micro-tensile testing.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Zhao, J., Al Faysal, A., Lee, J. U., Filleter, T., & Lee, P. C. Toughening mechanism in micro-layered polymer films revealed by in situ micro-tensile testing. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2025. Submitted.
Americas Regional Meeting of the Polymer Processing Society
Faysal, A. A., Zhao, J., & Lee, P. C. Layered foam/film polymer composite structure exhibiting high absorption dominant electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. Americas Regional Meeting of the Polymer Processing Society, Guelph, Canada, 2025.
Multi-interphase biodegradable nanolayer films for enhanced mechanical and gas barrier properties.
Sustainable Materials and Technologies
Faysal, A. A., Mallamaci, G., Zhao, J., Sollogoub, C., & Lee, P. C. Multi-interphase biodegradable nanolayer films for enhanced mechanical and gas barrier properties. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 2025. To be submitted.
Artificial nacre materials made by CO2 laser-induced technology for graphene structures with stacked PBAT films embedded with cellulose-rich biofibers (CRB) for enhanced material properties.
Advanced Functional Materials
Lee, T., Lee, J., Zhao, J., & Lee, P. C. Artificial nacre materials made by CO2 laser-induced technology for graphene structures with stacked PBAT films embedded with cellulose-rich biofibers (CRB) for enhanced material properties. Advanced Functional Materials, 2025. To be submitted.
Image recognition enabled automatic in situ tracing of cell nucleation and growth in micro-layered film/foam alternating structures.
In preparation
Zhao, J., et al. Image recognition enabled automatic in situ tracing of cell nucleation and growth in micro-layered film/foam alternating structures. 2025. In preparation.
Nano-Layered Films and Foams. In: Polyester Films: Materials, Processes and Applications.
Book Chapter
T. Su, A. Al Faysal, J. Zhao, & P. C. Lee. Nano-Layered Films and Foams. In: Polyester Films: Materials, Processes and Applications, pp. 225–276.
In situ UV laser-induced forward transfer of carbon nanosphere/graphene composites on siloxane-polyurethane substrates for human health monitoring.
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
Lee, J. U., Aguiar, R., Zhao, J., Lee, K., Sansone, N. D., Kim, K.-W., Lee, T., Ma, Y.-W., Choi, D., Shin, B.-S. S., & Lee, P. C. In situ UV laser-induced forward transfer of carbon nanosphere/graphene composites on siloxane-polyurethane substrates for human health monitoring. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials, under revision.
Micro-layered film and foam alternating structures: A novel passive daytime radiative cooling material.
Nano Energy
Zhao, J., Li, H., Choi, D., & Lee, P. C. Micro-layered film and foam alternating structures: A novel passive daytime radiative cooling material. Nano Energy, 2024, 127, 109695.
Bio-inspired laser micro/nanostructuring of highly graphitic carbon enabling structural coloration and high-performance all-weather solar evaporator.
Chemical Engineering Journal
Lee, J. U., Aguiar, R., Su, T. Y. T., Kim, K.-W., Zhao, J., et al., Bio-inspired laser micro/nanostructuring of highly graphitic carbon enabling structural coloration and high-performance all-weather solar evaporator. Chemical Engineering Journal, under review.
Microwave foaming of polymers.
Journal of Materials Science
Zhao, J., Zheng, S., Xu, Z., & Huang, X. Microwave foaming of polymers. Journal of Materials Science, 2021, 15491–15498.
Production of high aspect-ratio rectangular-lumen microtube by gas-assisted microextrusion.
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
Wang, L., Huang, X., Zhao, J., Liu, C., Xu, Z., & Pei, H. Production of high aspect-ratio rectangular-lumen microtube by gas-assisted microextrusion. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2020, 49352.
Fabrication and application of flexible rectangular microtubes.
Polymer-Plastics Technology and Materials
Huang, X., Wang, L., Zhao, J., Liu, C., Zhou, F., Xu, Z., & Pei, H. Fabrication and application of flexible rectangular microtubes. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Materials, 2020, 959–965.
Solvent-free generation of foamed microcapillary films with a dual network of interconnected pores and internal channels.
Macromolecular Materials and Engineering
Zhao, J., Xu, Z., Zheng, S., Liu, C., Liu, J., & Pei, H. Solvent-free generation of foamed microcapillary films with a dual network of interconnected pores and internal channels. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 2020, 1900768.
A movable-block variable-differentiation-cross section extrusion die for preparing micro-nano structures.
China Patent
China. CN110253856A.
A method for generating foamed microcapillary films with a dual network of interconnected pores and internal channels.
China Patent
China. PCT/CN2019/096518.
Numerical simulations of wall contact angle effects on droplet size during step emulsification.
RSC Advances
Wang, M., Kong, C., Liang, Q., Zhao, J., Wen, M., Xu, Z., & Ruan, X. Numerical simulations of wall contact angle effects on droplet size during step emulsification. RSC Advances, 2018, 33042–33047.