Xin Zhang, PhD

Distinguished Professor of Engineering (ME, ECE, BME, MSE)

Office 8 St. Mary’s Street, PHO 921
Email xinz@bu.edu
Phone (617) 358-2702
Website Laboratory for Microsystems Technology

In the News

Thomas A. Edison Patent Award for Xin Zhang
May 16, 2025
Zhang is being recognized for her pioneering contributions to the field of metamaterials. [ More ]
Color Meets Bio-inspired Metamaterials
December 16, 2024
Diatoms, which are microscopic unicellular algae often referred to as “jewels of... [ More ]
Xin Zhang Featured in American Scientist
October 18, 2024
The metamaterials pioneer spoke at length with the prestigious science magazine's editor-in-chief. [ More ]

Publications

View a complete list of publications chronologically by year.
View a complete list of publications by citation.

Research Areas

Prof. Xin Zhang’s research is generally focused on the development of metamaterials and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS or microsystems), from their fundamental physics and mathematical underpinnings, their design and development, through to their use in real world applications. Three distinct research themes and applications areas are represented by her recent work, namely metamaterials and microsystems: 1. with tunable and nonlinear responses for photonic and optical applications, 2. for clinical medical imaging technologies, and 3. for acoustic silencing and noise reduction.

Honors and Awards

ASME Robert Henry Thurston Lecture Award, 2024
Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, 2023
Finalist of IET Excellence and Innovation Awards – International Award, 2023
Sigma Xi Walston Chubb Award, 2023
Finalist of the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year, 2023
IEEE EMBS Technical Achievement Award, 2023
ASME Per Bruel Gold Medal, 2023
STAT Madness All-Star Award, 2023
Finalist of E&T Innovation Award on Chief Engineer of the Year, 2022
Guggenheim Fellowship, 2022
Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Boston University, 2022
Rajen Kilachand Fund for Life Sciences and Engineering, 2021
Finalist of E&T Innovation Award on Digital Health and Social Care, 2021
Finalist of E&T Innovation Award on Tech for Good, 2021
Invented Here! Honoree, Boston Patent Law Association, 2021
Finalist of IET Achievement Medal, 2020
Invented Here! Honoree, Boston Patent Law Association, 2020
Finalist of E&T Innovation Award on Excellence in R&D, 2020
Fellow of National Academy of Inventors, 2019
IET Innovation Award on Emerging Technology Design, 2019
Fellow of APS (American Physical Society), 2019
Boston University Innovator of the Year, 2018
Charles DeLisi Award and Distinguished Lecture, 2018
Fellow of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), 2017
Associate Fellow of AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), 2017
Fellow of AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 2016
IEEE Sensors Council Technical Achievement Award (Advanced Career), 2016
Fellow of AIMBE (American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering), 2016
Fellow of Optica, 2016
Fellow of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), 2015

Additional Affiliations

Division of Materials Science & Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Photonics Center

Departments or Divisions: Biomedical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Affiliations: Materials by Design, Photonics & Optical Systems, Primary & Affiliated Faculty

View all profiles

Xin Zhang, PhD

Distinguished Professor of Engineering (ME, ECE, BME, MSE)

In the News

Thomas A. Edison Patent Award for Xin Zhang

Color Meets Bio-inspired Metamaterials

Xin Zhang Featured in American Scientist

Publications