Minglei Qu

Minglei Qu sees metal additive manufacturing, also known as metal 3D printing, as a revolutionary manufacturing approach capable of producing products with complex and custom shapes that are difficult or impossible to achieve using conventional manufacturing routes. However, printed parts often contain defects, leading to inconsistencies in quality and a slow adoption of metal additive manufacturing across various industries.

“Thoroughly understanding the process to address these key challenges keeps me engaged and motivated,” says Qu.

This fall, Qu will join the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, as an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, where he will continue to explore additive manufacturing. 

Before coming to ASU, he was a postdoctoral research associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory after completing his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During his doctoral studies and postdoc work, he used unique synchrotron X-ray and neutron-based in-situ characterization tools to understand the fundamental physics and materials science in metal additive manufacturing.

“By thoroughly understanding the additive manufacturing process, we can develop new technologies and materials to control defects,” Qu says. “My goal is to take the metal additive manufacturing to a new level and expand its application areas.”

Qu’s research has been published in top journals, including Nature Communications, Additive Manufacturing and Acta Materialia. In 2022, he developed a novel method to control defects and stabilize laser-material interactions using nanoparticles, which led to consistent and reliable metal additive manufacturing.

“The work was reported by more than 30 news outlets and highlighted on the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Advanced Photon Source homepages,” he says. 

Qu decided to come to ASU due to its innovative culture and strong engineering program. 

“ASU is a great university,” he says. “Its outstanding faculty, with diverse research backgrounds, offers numerous opportunities for collaboration and innovation.”

As an assistant professor, Qu will teach the MAE 213 Mechanics of Materials course and plans to prepare students for successful career paths.

“Students will gain an understanding of material mechanics, equipping them with the knowledge necessary to tackle engineering challenges related to material performance and design,” Qu says. 

Meet the newest faculty members of the Fulton Schools of Engineering here.

Written by Roger Ndayisaba