Research & invention
Advancing materials and manufacturing
Dr. Xu develops multifunctional ceramics, additive processes, wireless sensing, and AI-enabled manufacturing methods designed for extreme operating conditions.
about
About
Research leadership with a line of sight to national impact.
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Professor Cheryl Xu’s career connects advanced engineering research, invention, education, editorial leadership, and science and technology policy.
Biography
Cheryl Xu, Ph.D.
Dr. Xu is a Professor in NC State’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and principal investigator of the AI-M3 Research Group.
Her research centers on advanced manufacturing of multifunctional materials, sensor design for harsh environments, process optimization, and sensor-based monitoring and control through artificial intelligence. She joined NC State in 2018 after faculty appointments at Florida State University and the University of Central Florida. She earned her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 2006.
Across more than two decades, she has led federally and industry-sponsored research for aerospace, energy, defense, and industrial applications. Her program has produced approximately 80 journal papers, more than 50 refereed conference papers, 15 U.S. and international patents, and approximately $12 million in research funding.
Science & technology policy
Connecting research with national strategy
As an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow and Research Fellow with DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, she has contributed technical leadership to national work on AI-enabled smart manufacturing.
Scholarly leadership
Building an interdisciplinary publishing platform
She served as founding Editor-in-Chief of Nature Portfolio’s npj Advanced Manufacturing and has held editorial leadership roles in the manufacturing community.
Education & mentoring
Developing engineers who translate ideas
Her teaching and mentoring emphasize fundamental understanding, disciplined experimentation, practical engineering judgment, and professional growth.
Selected recognition
Honors and professional leadership
2026 Fellow, Society of Manufacturing Engineers
2025 Fellow, National Academy of Inventors
2024 ELATES Fellow, national academic leadership program
2020 Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
2015 IEEE Education Society Teaching Award
2011 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award
2011 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award
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