8/28/2023 Bethan Owen
We are delighted that Professor Yuan Yang is joining the Department of Bioengineering this semester as an associate professor. To get to know Professor Yang a little better, we sat down with him to ask some questions about his academic background and what he hopes to accomplish in the bioengineering department.
Written by Bethan Owen
Professor Yuan Yang is a renowned researcher with a diverse engineering and medical background that emphasizes stroke recovery. We are delighted that he is joining the Department of Bioengineering this semester as an associate professor.
To get to know Professor Yang a little better, we sat down with him to ask some questions about his academic background and what he hopes to accomplish in the bioengineering department.
What are your academic interests and areas of expertise?
I have a bit of a diverse engineering background. I got my bachelor’s and master’s degree in biomedical engineering. I then did my PhD at Telecom ParisTech (a part of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, in Paris, France) in Signal and Imaging Processing, in what is the equivalent of electrical and computer engineering in the US. Afterwards I did my postdoc at the Delft University of Technology in biomechanical engineering.
In 2017, I became an assistant professor in physical therapy and human movement science at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. In 2020, I transitioned to a new position as a tenure-track assistant professor in biomedical engineering at the University of Oklahoma. While I was there I received an NIH R01 award, the American Heart Association Career Award, and an NSF Career Award. I’m now looking forward to being an associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering as well as in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
What I focus on in my research is how we can better understand the human brain after injury. When someone has had a brain injury like a stroke, how is their movement impacted? How can we develop new technologies to help them restore their movement? This is an interdisciplinary kind of research area which requires biomedical engineering knowledge, but also elements of machine learning, data science, neuroscience, and imaging. The goal of my research is to build a bridge between engineering and medicine. Through multidisciplinary efforts, we can better understand and help patients suffering from stroke or brain injury recover and return to their normal life.
What projects are you working on right now?
My three main projects–the NIH R01, American Heart Association Career Award, and NSF Career Award–are all focused on how we can better understand how the brain reorganizes after a stroke, and how we can develop new technologies to help people with disability caused by brain injury. I'm really excited about all of those.
My work in this area is partly linked to a sad story in my family–about 20 years ago, my lovely grandmother passed away after a stroke. In the two months leading up to her passing, she was confined to her bed, unable to move or speak due to the injury. And that’s when I realized, okay. That's the research I want to do. I want to help people like my grandmother.
What made you choose UIUC?
There were several reasons. Illinois bioengineering is very strong in imaging data science, which was appealing to me. At Illinois we have the Beckman Institute, which is an incredible resource, as well as our relationship with Carle Foundation Hospital. Carle provides excellent clinical resources as well as opportunities to collaborate with physicians and translate our knowledge into future clinical properties. All of these factors make Illinois very unique.
I am also looking forward to getting involved in the community here at UIUC. I am working on a project that involves the local University High School, which I’m sure will be rewarding. I will also serve on the department’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to hike and spend time outdoors with my family. We love camping at state parks and things like that–I have an eight-year-old son who likes outdoor activities very much, so that’s what we do for fun. I like to garden as well.
Will you have a lab in the Department of Bioengineering?
Yes, I will. I am also looking for some postdocs and students to join me in my lab!