UA students gain global research experience in Japan through NSF program led by Dr. K.T. Tan

Dr. Kwek‑Tze “K.T.” Tan, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Akron (UA), has received a $363,657 grant from the National Science Foundation to provide U.S. students with world-class research experience in sustainable composite materials. The project, IRES: Advancing Sustainable Technology And Recycling for Composite Materials, will provide 18 undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to work in top Japanese laboratories, including the University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) and Nagoya University. Co-principal investigators on the project are UA faculty members Dr. Sadhan Jana of the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering and Dr. En Cheng of the Department of Computer Science.

Training the next generation of leaders in research and innovation requires giving students exposure to the best in the world. This program immerses U.S. students in laboratories in Japan, a country known for its cutting-edge composite materials research, and allows them to collaborate with international experts while gaining cross-cultural experience. Japan plays a major role in the global composite materials market. Four of the nine leading companies — Toray Industries, Teijin Limited, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings and Nippon Electrical Glass — are Japanese, and Japanese firms co-designed and built 35 percent of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner airframe, which is assembled in the U.S.

During the eight-week summer programs, students will learn the latest research in additive manufacturing, sustainability and data-driven design, and inspection of composite materials. The specific learning objectives include establishing students’ knowledge of the latest research that supports carbon-neutrality through close interaction with U.S. and Japanese experts, cultivating awareness of the international scientific community and global market competition by exposing students to world-class facilities and equipment, and developing skillsets to prepare students for leadership roles in the composite field through collaboration, graduate research training and career development in U.S. companies and federal agencies.

The idea for the IRES project grew from Tan’s long-standing collaboration with eminent Japanese professors Dr. Ogasawara of TUAT, Dr. Yokozeki of the University of Tokyo and Dr. Yoshimura of Nagoya University, with whom he worked while a Ph.D. student trainee at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency from 2008 to 2011. Since then, he has co-authored multiple publications with each collaborator and continues to develop joint research projects in machine learning and composite materials. Both U.S. and Japanese students will learn from each other through immersive lab experiences, gaining technical expertise and cross-cultural skills that are critical for success in today’s global research and innovation ecosystem.

“This program showcases the strength of our College,” said Dr. Craig Menzemer, dean of the College of Engineering and Polymer Science. “By harnessing expertise across mechanical engineering, polymer science and polymer engineering, and computer science, UA provides students with a truly interdisciplinary, international research experience.”

The University of Akron offers world-class research facilities and interdisciplinary expertise that make it uniquely suited to lead this program. UA is part of the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub and the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, leading efforts in life cycle analysis and sustainable materials research in undergraduate and graduate curricula.

"I am honored to receive this NSF award," said Tan. "It will provide our students with unparalleled opportunities to gain international research experience and develop expertise in sustainable composite materials, preparing them to be global leaders in innovation."

About Dr. K.T. Tan

Tan joined UA as an assistant professor in 2014, received tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2020 and became a full professor in 2025. His research focuses on advanced composite materials, mechanical metamaterials and biomimetic structures with applications in defense, aerospace, energy production and biomedical devices. He has published more than 160 peer-reviewed articles, secured over $3 million in research funding and received multiple awards, including the UA College of Engineering and Polymer Science Chemstress Outstanding Teaching Award, the Japan Society for Promotion of Science Invitational Fellowship, the American Society for Composites Best Paper Award and several UA Faculty Research Committee Summer Fellowships. He also serves on the executive committee of the American Society for Composites and as assistant editor of the International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture.

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.