Day: June 3, 2025

Assistant Teaching Professor Fei Long joined the MAE Department in 2013, first as a post-doctoral research associate for one year, and then as an instructor and faculty member. His areas of research expertise include nanomaterials and scanning probe microscopy, sustainable manufacturing, Machine Learning, and waste characterization and recycling. 

What drew you to Michigan Tech?

FL: My journey here has been somewhat unique, but I feel fortunate to be at Michigan Tech. After my Ph.D., I worked as an application scientist at Bruker, a scientific instrument company. While I gained valuable experience, the travel-intensive nature of the job led me to seek a return to academia. 

It was a bit of serendipity that Professor Reza Shahbazian-Yassar posted a postdoc opening at Michigan Tech in a Bruker user forum. I reached out, we had a great conversation, and I began my postdoc in what is now the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Following my postdoc, I continued teaching in MAE while growing my research and publications, and in fall 2024, I was thrilled to join the department as a tenure-track assistant professor. Beyond the professional opportunities, both my wife and I appreciate the friendly and supportive people at Michigan Tech, and the peace and natural beauty of Houghton. Coming from a huge city like Shanghai (with its 24.8 million people!), we’ve truly embraced the Yooper lifestyle.

Dr. Chloe He was a lecturer in the MAE department at Michigan Tech in Spring 2024, and is now an assistant teaching professor started in Fall 2024. She holds a BA in Environmental and Energy Engineering from Beijing University of Technology, a MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from New Mexico State University and PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Dr. He is specialized in heat transfer, with a particular focus on leveraging chemical surface treatment techniques to enhance thermal performance in experimental settings.

What drew you to Michigan Tech?
CH: I first came to Michigan Tech as a PhD student. What really drew me in was a combination of academic opportunity and personal passion. When I was a master’s student at New Mexico State, my advisor, Dr. Chunpei Cai, accepted a job at Michigan Tech and invited me to continue my studies under his guidance. I did some research into Michigan Tech and was impressed by the research facilities and academic environment. The bonus? I love snowboarding, and Michigan Tech offered me both professional growth and access to great winter sports.