Professor Libo Yan teaches at the Technical University of Braunschweig as an adjunct professor at the Institute for Building Materials, Solid Construction and Fire Protection in the Division of Organic and Wood-based Materials. In addition to this function, Professor Yan will develop new thematic fields at the Fraunhofer WKI as a Senior Scientist. His research focuses on hybrid structural and material systems, organic and inorganic building materials and wood-based materials, fiber- and textile-reinforced polymer and cement composites, impact strength and dynamic properties of structures, concrete recycling, and the durability of building materials and raw materials.

Professor Dr.-Ing. Bohumil Kasal, Director of the Fraunhofer WKI, is looking forward to the close collaboration: “With Professor Yan, we have succeeded in attracting a committed expert in the field of natural-fiber construction methods for a long-term partnership. He has already been leading the junior research group at the Fraunhofer WKI and the TU Braunschweig since 2018, and we are now consolidating a successful collaboration.” Professor Yan will continue to be engaged in the department “Center for Light and Environmentally-Friendly Structures ZELUBA^®”, which will shortly be moving into the newly erected building on the campus of the TU Braunschweig. The new ZELUBA^® will intensify the cooperation with the TU Braunschweig. The researchers will thereby combine simulation procedures with structural-physical and mechanical-constructive investigation methods. The spectrum ranges from the development of bio-based, high-performance building materials, through the complex issues of individual details, and on to the development of complete wall and ceiling elements. A further research focus at ZELUBA^® is the development of reactive fire-protection systems which improve the building-material behavior and the fire resistance of building elements, installations and structures.

From April 2015 to April 2021, Professor Yan held a junior professorship at the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences at the TU Braunschweig. Before coming to the TU Braunschweig, he was employed for several months as a researcher at the Fraunhofer WKI’s ZELUBA^®. Professor Yan holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Chongqing University, China, a Master of Science (with distinction) in Structural Engineering from Cardiff University, UK, and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

He has authored more than 100 scientific publications, including 6 book chapters, 73 ISI journal articles, and more than 23 peer-reviewed conference contributions. Several of his papers have been listed as “Highly Cited Papers” by Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics). Professor Yan serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Frontiers in Materials and of Advances in Civil Engineering, and as Guest Editor of the Journal of Polymers and the Journal of Sustainability. He also serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Composite Materials and Engineering. Professor Yan has been invited to present seminars at universities and research institutes in Germany, China, Australia, the Czech Republic, and New Zealand, and has received a series of national and international awards.