Interview with Dr. Xufei Lu—Winner of the Metals 2022 Best Ph.D. Thesis Award

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Metals 2022 Best Ph.D. Thesis Award. This award is for a Ph.D. student or recently qualified researcher who has produced a highly anticipated thesis with impressive academic potential.

The award has been granted to the following thesis:
“Computational and experimental thermo-mechanics of metal additive manufacturing: stress, warpage, cracks and properties” by Xufei Lu, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Spain.

The winner will receive CHF 800, a certificate, and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Metals in 2023.

We congratulate Dr. Xufei Lu on his accomplishments. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the applicants for submitting their exceptional theses and the Award Committee for voting, and supporting this award.

Dr. Xufei Lu is an accomplished post-doctoral researcher at the International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), Polytechnical University of Catalonia, located in Spain. He completed his master's degree in materials science and engineering at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China from 2016 to 2019, and later went on to pursue his Ph.D. in structural analysis at UPC. Dr. Lu successfully defended his thesis with a mark of Excellent Cum Laude in 2022. Dr. Lu's research focus is metallic additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, and he has been studying this area since 2016. His research interests in AM cover a wide range of topics. Dr. Lu specializes in the numerical simulation of thermo-microstructural–mechanical evolution during the AM of metallic materials, especially the formation mechanisms of residual stresses, part warpages, and cracks for metal AM, as well as the corresponding control strategies. He has also studied the design and optimization of microstructures and macro geometric structures of AM builds and substrates for fabricating high-quality AM parts. Dr. Lu has published over 30 papers in reputed international journals, which have received more than 800 citations. He has also been a reviewer for prestigious international journals such as Additive Manufacturing, Materials & Design, Additive Manufacturing Letters, Journal of Thermal Stresses, and 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing.

The following is an interview with Dr. Xufei Lu:

1. What’s your current research and why did you choose this research field?
My current research is on the numerical simulation of thermal–metallurgical–mechanical behavior during the additive manufacturing processes of metallic materials.
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly growing area of manufacturing that allows for the creation of complex shapes and geometries that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. In AM, a digital model of the object to be printed is created, and this is then sliced into thin layers. The printer then builds up the object by depositing material layer by layer until the entire object is complete. The materials used in AM can include plastics, metals, ceramics, and composites. Applications of AM include prototyping, tooling, and end-use parts in a range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and consumer goods. AM is becoming popular in industry due to its advantages including:
Design flexibility: AM allows for complex geometries and designs that were previously impossible with traditional manufacturing techniques. This means that engineers and designers can create parts that are more lightweight, efficient, and customized to the application.
Faster prototyping: AM can quickly produce prototypes of new parts or products, allowing engineers and designers to test and refine their designs more quickly and efficiently.
Reduced waste: Traditional manufacturing techniques often produce a significant amount of waste; however, AM can reduce waste by only using the necessary amount of material to create a part.
Lower costs for small production runs: AM can be more cost-effective for producing small batches of parts, as it eliminates the need for expensive tooling or molds.
Improved supply chain efficiency: AM can be used to produce parts on demand, reducing the need for large inventories, and streamlining the supply chain.
Hence, I chose this field as my study topic.

2. Have you ever encountered any difficulties when conducting research? How did you overcome them?
For sure. It is very common to experience failure when conducting research, such as technical challenges, time constraints, and unexpected results. My solutions are collaborating with other researchers, seeking help from mentors or colleagues, staying persistent, thinking creatively, and adapting to changes.

3. What qualities do you think young scientists need?
I think young scientists need to develop the following qualities:
Curiosity: Young scientists should have a strong desire to learn and explore new ideas, concepts, and technologies.
Creativity: The ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions is critical for scientific breakthroughs.
Persistence: Science often involves setbacks and failures, and young scientists must be persistent in the face of challenges.
Strong work ethic: Successful scientists are typically hardworking and committed to their research.
Effective communication skills: Good communication skills are essential for sharing research findings, collaborating with other scientists, and securing funding.
Adaptability: The ability to adapt to new situations and work effectively in a variety of settings is important for scientists who work on interdisciplinary teams or in different laboratory environments.
Attention to detail: Science often involves complex data sets, and young scientists must be able to pay attention to details and ensure accuracy in their work.
Open-mindedness: Young scientists should be open to constructive criticism and new ideas, and be willing to revise their hypotheses or approaches if necessary.
Passion: Lastly, a passion for science is essential for a successful career in research. A love of discovery and the pursuit of knowledge can drive young scientists to make significant contributions to their fields.

4. As Metals is an Open Access journal, how do you think Open Access impacts the authors?
I think Open Access publishing has a significant impact on authors, as follows:
Increased visibility and impact: Open Access publishing makes research articles easily accessible to a global audience, increasing the visibility and reach of the research. As a result, it can lead to greater citation rates and impact on the research field.
Greater dissemination of research: Open Access publishing enables authors to reach a wider audience without the restrictions of subscription-based journals. The research can be accessed by anyone, including researchers, academics, policymakers, practitioners, and the general public, leading to the greater dissemination of research findings.
More opportunities for collaboration: Open Access publishing can facilitate collaboration between researchers from different disciplines and institutions, leading to a more significant exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Better compliance with funding agency requirements: Many funding agencies now require grantees to publish their research in Open Access journals, making it easier for authors to comply with these requirements.
In summary, Open Access publishing provides authors with a range of benefits, including greater visibility, dissemination, collaboration, and compliance with funding agency requirements, among others.

5. Would you like to share your experience with the journal Metals and why you decided to apply for the Best Ph.D. Thesis Award?
Metals is a prestigious international journal dedicated to publishing high-quality scientific research and technology development related to all kinds of metals. The journal provides a forum for publishing papers that advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between processing, structure, and properties or functions of metals. As an author, I have found Metals to be an ideal platform to publish my research work, and I am proud to say that I have published three papers in this esteemed journal.
I frequently browse the Metals webpage to read interesting publications and stay up to date with the latest research in the field. When I discovered the opportunity to apply for the award, I decided to submit my work for consideration. Winning the award came as a pleasant surprise to me, and I am grateful for the recognition of my work by Metals.

6. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express, or someone to thank most?
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisors Prof. Michele Chiumenti and Prof. Miguel Cerverafor, for the trust they put in me since the beginning and for their insightful guidance and full support. My supervisors gave me the freedom and all the support needed during my master’s degree and doctoral studies. Their knowledge and passion for science drove me beyond my limits and made the completion of this project possible.
I also want to thank my colleagues for their help and strong support during the whole research process.
Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Metals journal for awarding me the Metals 2022 Best Ph.D. Thesis Award. It is a great honor to be recognized for my hard work and dedication to this field of research.