Jun Liu, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at North Carolina State University, has been named to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Rising Stars of Mechanical Engineering Class of 2024. Liu and his fellow honorees were recognized for their accomplishments at the 2024 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE), held November 17–21 in Portland, Oregon.
The ASME Rising Stars program highlights early-career engineers making significant contributions to the field. Liu’s work, which spans nanoscale heat transfer, soft matter, chiral materials, and energy conversion and storage, places him at the forefront of mechanical engineering innovation.
Before joining NC State, Liu served as a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from November 2013 to July 2015. He earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2013, where he also received the Outstanding Dissertation Award. Liu’s academic foundation was established at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Power and Energy Engineering in 2008.
Since joining NC State, Liu has been a driving force in both research and education. He received the NSF CAREER Award in 2020 for his pioneering work in thermal energy management and was honored with the NC State University Outstanding Teacher Award in 2023 for his dedication to student success.
Liu’s recognition by ASME not only underscores his individual achievements but also highlights the excellence of NC State’s MAE department. The department, a hub of innovation and interdisciplinary research, is committed to addressing critical global challenges through engineering solutions. Liu’s work exemplifies this mission, particularly in the areas of sustainable energy and advanced materials.
Liu’s achievements reflect the high standards of NC State’s MAE department and its dedication to advancing engineering knowledge and technology for the benefit of society.