PI
Dr. Wan Shou is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville. He was a Postdoctoral Associate in Computational Design & Fabrication Group at MIT CSAIL from January 2019 to July 2021, mentored by Prof. Wojciech Matusik (EECS & ME). He studied laser materials processing and manufacturing at MST and received his PhD in 2018. He also received a BS in Textile Science and Engineering from the Tiangong University in 2012 and MS in ME from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2014. His group aims to solve societal challenges with manufacturing. His research interests are closely related to advanced manufacturing (e.g, laser-based micro/nano-manufacturing, novel 3D printing, and robot-assisted manufacturing), and advanced materials (such as hydrogels/ionogels, composites, functional fibers, semiconductors, etc.). His research has wide applications, such as wearable electronics, robotics, structural materials, clean water/energy, etc.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Advanced and Disruptive Manufacturing Design for Materials and Manufacturing
Scalable micor/nano manufacturing; Hybrid 3D printing Polymer design, synthesis/formulation
Robot manipulation and manufacturing Materials and manufacturing for clean water/eneegy
Advanced Materials for Electronics and Robotics Fundamentals
Functional nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and soft materials Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of crystallization
Functional fibers and textiles Light-matter interactions; Polymerization/curing
Graduate Students
Youwen Liang, Ph.D. student, 2024 summer-
Research Interests: Manufacturing, laser processing, and simulation.
Aria Wang, Ph.D. student, 2026-
Research Interests: Robot-assisted manufacturing, composites.
Nahid Tushar, Ph.D. student, 2021 fall-
Research Interests: Manufacturing, robotics, and machine learning
Scott Fisher, master student, 2025 fall-
Research Interests: Design and robotics.
Rencheng Wu (co-advised), Ph.D. student, 2021 fall-
Research Interests: Manufacturing, design, and automation
Ariadna Ramirez, master student, 2026 fall-
Research Interests: Sensor and robotics.
Undergraduate Students
George Vessey
Research topic: Sand robot design, manufacturing and application (2025 Spring-)
Gabrielle Blitz
Research topic: Micro-robot, soft robot design, and fabrication (2025 Spring-2026 Summer)
Keegan Atkins
Research topic: Sand robot design, manufacturing and application (2025 Spring-)
High school students
Emma Hardman, high school student, 2025 May-July
Janie Kramer, high school student, 2025 May-July
Cole Kessman, high school student, 2025 April-
Norah Odland, high school student, 2025 May-July
Harry Xu, high school student, 2025 June-
Former members
Garrett Horton, Research interest: nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing for functional fiber; automation, 2024 fall-2025 fall, Honors College research grant 2025.
Cole McCallum, Research topic: laser materials processing; composite manufacturing; 2023 fall-2026 spring, Honors College research grant 2024
John Dykes, Research interest: nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing for functional fiber; automation, 2024 fall-2025 fall, Honors College research grant 2025.
Ariadna Ramirez, 2024 Spring-2026 summer, Honors College research grant 2024, 2025. Now MS student in group.
NguyetNhi (Brittney) Nguyen, Research topic: advanced manufacturing for sensors and robots, composites; 2024 Spring-2025 fall.
Bo Shen, MS Research topic: laser materials processing and manufacturing. First job: Ecotech (USA).
Zane Mebruer 2022 Fall-2025 Spring; Honors College research grant 2023, 2024;
NASA ASGC - WFD Award Summer 2024; one first-author journal paper.
Now: Georgia Tech PhD student
Sylvia Smith, high school student, research interest: microfluidic device for brain-on-a-chip (2024 June-July). Bodenhamer Fellow at University of Arkansas U of A Honors College Announces 2025 Bodenhamer Fellows | University of Arkansas
Jade Thomas Research topic: ionic polymer processing/manufacturing. (2022 Spring-2024 Spring)
NSF REU program; Wiley grant ($500); Honors College research grant 2022; summer research grant (from the Space Grant Consortium) 2023; NASA internship 2023; SURF grant 2024
Now: Georgia Tech PhD student
Hannah Odland, high school student, rsearch interest: robotics (2023 Summer-Fall) Admitted to MIT 2024.
Scott Logan Williamson, undergraduate student, research topic: spray (2023 Spring-Summer).
Trent Lenhart Research topic: soft robot manufacturing (2023 Fall)
Brett Miller, Jake Le, Duncan Nunnelly Research topic: robot-assisted manufacturing (2023 Fall-2024 Spring)