Yang Han, Ph.D.
Yang Han (韩洋) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt University. He is a membrane scientist who studies molecular separations and polymer-guest molecule interactions in lab and real-world settings. His expertise spans reactive diffusion in polymers, membrane chemistry, and lab-to-fab membrane processing.
Yang earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and an Honours B.S. from Tianjin University. His work has been recognized with the 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Separations Division Graduate Research Award and the 2019 North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Young Membrane Scientist Award.
Outside of the lab, Yang once made a Top 8 finish at a Pokémon Regional Championship and is always on the lookout for his next chance to catch them all.
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Undergraduate Students
CBE undergraduate student
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CBE undergraduate student
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Honorable Members
Zephyr specializes in the emerging field of purr-based therapeutics, with a focus on low-frequency acoustic healing delivered directly to the human chest (preferably at 6–8 am). His research explores the relationship between purring intensity, cuddle duration, and stress reduction, with highly reproducible results across multiple sleepy subjects.
Outside of his rigorous experimental schedule, Zephyr is committed to quality control of all lab seating surfaces and maintains a strict policy of occupying laptops during peak productivity hours. He brings a calming presence to the lab, along with an unwavering belief that all important work can (and should) be paused for pets.
Yuki is an aspiring rheologist dedicated to advancing the fundamental understanding of cats as complex fluids. His work focuses on phase transitions between loaf, liquid sprawl, and sudden high-velocity states, as well as the viscoelastic properties that allow him to perfectly conform to containers well below his apparent volume.
His research philosophy is rooted in defiance-driven discovery: any stated boundary immediately becomes an experimental target. Prohibited surfaces, restricted zones, and “please don’t do that” scenarios are rigorously tested for scientific completeness. He firmly believes that all matter exhibits flow under sufficient stress—and that any imposed constraint will eventually be upper convected right out of relevance.
Join the lab!
Now recruiting for Fall 2026
Prospective graduate students: I am recruiting students through the PhD program in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Interdisciplinary Materials Science Program at Vanderbilt. You are welcome to reach out via email in advance!
Postdocs: The lab currently does not have dedicated funding for postdocs, but please reach out if you have external funding or would like to work together to apply for a fellowship.
Undergraduates at Vanderbilt: Motivated undergraduates are encouraged to join the lab from Fall 2026 onward.