Before she even finished walking across the stage at graduation this spring, Fengpei Yuan (PhD ’24) was making plans for her own research lab at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The healthcare roboticist will join the WPI Robotics Engineering Department faculty as a tenure-track assistant professor this fall.
“Securing this position is the culmination of my time spent at UT, the resources provided to me, and the training, advice, support, and inspiration I received from UT faculty, mentors, staff, and friends,” Yuan said. “I think that UT has been preparing me for this position since my first year as a PhD student, even in ways I wasn’t always aware of.”
Humanoid Robots for Healthcare
As a doctoral student in UT’s Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering (MABE), Yuan conducted research on socially assistive robotics (SAR) under the advisement of Professor Xiaopeng Zhao.
SAR are intricate, often humanoid robots that help patients who struggle with self-care and other daily activities. Zhao, who also serves as a program director at the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies, focuses on developing SAR for Alzheimer’s patients.
“Dr. Zhao has been incredibly supportive not just in terms of research methodology, but also in fostering a mindset that balances research with life,” Yuan said. “His encouragement was invaluable during times when I doubted my capabilities, particularly as a female student in engineering.”
Zhao is excited to see how Yuan flourishes in her new role.
“It feels incredibly rewarding and fulfilling to see Dr. Yuan secure a faculty position right after graduation,” Zhao said. “It is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and the excellent preparation she received at UT.”
MABE Grad Students are Prepared for Independent Research, Mentorship
It is rare for researchers to be hired to tenure-track faculty positions without first completing postdoctoral research. Yuan’s quick transition to self-directed research is supported by Zhao’s teaching style, which emphasizes independence.
Zhao encourages his graduate students to propose new research ideas, seek feedback from other UT professors to broaden their perspectives, and take the lead in reaching out to potential collaborators, both in MABE and in other departments.
“My PhD journey at UT taught me many valuable lessons for pursuing research, including a philosophy of exploring interdisciplinary fields in robotics and AI-assisted healthcare,” Yuan said.
According to Zhao, the MABE graduate curriculum also encourages students to collaborate and look beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines.
“Our curriculum is robust, equipping students with both theoretical and practical knowledge,” he said. “That well-rounded education prepares them to tackle complex problems and lead research initiatives effectively.”
Yuan also feels well equipped to interact with and mentor students, an equally important aspect of her new appointment. Zhao makes sure all his graduate students have plenty of experience supervising undergraduate research assistants, organizing research meetings, and presenting their research at professional conferences.
Those experiences were bolstered by the valuable help Yuan says she received from many other MABE faculty members, including Department Head and John W. Fisher Professor Kivanc Ekici.
“They offered invaluable suggestions on becoming an independent PI and faculty member and inspired me in my interactions with students,” she said.
Yuan Hoping to Broaden Reach of SAR
While Yuan is excited to continue her work with SAR in her own lab, she plans to advance nonverbal communication integration to improve the technology’s effectiveness.
“I see a gap in the study of nonverbal communication, such as robotic gestures and body movements,” she said. “Nonverbal communication holds great potential for SAR. Thus, synthesizing nonverbal and verbal communication will be a key focus of my research in the coming years.”
She also hopes to extend SAR research to other healthcare applications, such as autism care.
“I have no doubt that Dr. Yuan will continue to excel and make significant contributions in her new position at WPI,” said Zhao. “During her time at UT, she consistently went beyond the typical engineering fields to gain insights into human-robot interaction, human-centered design, prototype development, and usability experiments. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
Contact
Izzie Gall (865-974-7203, egall4@utk.edu)