Overview
Dr. Shi works on the bio-inspired smart materials to achieve high performance and advanced functions, e.g., special wettability, anisotropic properties, and dynamic response. Her research work was featured in CNN, Boston Globe, Digital Trends, etc. and highlighted by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL). The fog harps were invited to exhibit at ACC Smithsonian Creativity and Innovation Festival, National Museum of American History, and awarded the "Innovation Award" by Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology. She got the finalist of "Collegiate Inventors Competition", at United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Assistant Professor of Material Science at Duke Kunshan University
·
2021 - Present
DKU Faculty
Assistant Professor of the Practice of Interdisciplinary Studies at DKU at Duke University
·
2025 - Present
Interdisciplinary Studies at DKU Unit,
DKU Faculty
Recent Publications
Janus membranes with dynamically reversible solar evaporation interfaces
Journal Article Npj Clean Water · December 1, 2025 Interfacial solar evaporation is an innovative technique that has attracted significant attention for its potential applications across a variety of fields. Traditional evaporators either apply the hydrophobic surface or the hydrophilic, exposed to solar i ... Full text CiteEfficient solar water desalination with wood evaporators
Journal Article Environmental Technology & Innovation · November 2025 Full text CiteCoral Skeletons as Efficient Interfacial Solar Evaporators
Journal Article ACS Applied Engineering Materials · June 27, 2025 Full text CiteEducation, Training & Certifications
Virginia Polytech Institute and State University ·
2020
Ph.D.