Seminar on Multiphysical interactions in complex microbial and biopolymeric systems

07 Aug 2026 02.00 PM - 03.30 PM LHN-TR+30 (The Arc, LHN-L1-18) Current Students, Public

Assistant Professor Yeo Jingjie

Cornell University's Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, United States

This seminar will be chaired by A/P Ng Teng Yong.

Seminar Abstract

Our lab advances the computational engineering of multifunctional materials and bio inspired systems through agent-based modelling, molecular dynamics, machine learning, and data-driven design. Our goal is to deepen the understanding of biological systems and engineer them to address challenges in biomedical, environmental, and infrastructure applications. By bridging molecular-scale interactions with system-level behaviours, we develop materials with life-like properties, including self-healing capabilities and ultrafast ionic conduction. This talk covers three main topics: (1) multiphysical agent-based models for predicting and controlling biofilm growth, microbial-induced carbonate precipitation, and bacterial invasion mechanisms; (2) machine learning-enabled inverse design of surface topologies and architected pores to regulate microbial growth and adhesion; and (3) nanoscale transport characterisation to understand how nanoparticle properties and the chemical heterogeneity of human gut mucus influence transport across biological barriers. The talk will also highlight our commitment to mentorship, education, and training the next generation of engineers to develop adaptive, sustainable infrastructure and biodevices.

Speaker's Biography 

Prof. Jingjie Yeo is an Assistant Professor in Cornell University's Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Principal Investigator of the J² Lab for Engineering Living Materials. His research focuses on the computational design and characterisation of environmentally sustainable materials, particularly bacteria-based engineered living materials (ELMs) and the biopolymers they produce. He is also a co-instructor at Station1, a social nonprofit organisation dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and advancing socially directed STEM education, research, and internships. Prof. Yeo has received numerous honours, including the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and the Dennis G. Shepherd Excellence in Teaching Award, the highest teaching award in Cornell University's College of Engineering. Before joining Cornell in 2020, he was a research scientist at the Institute of High Performance Computing, Singapore, and also held postdoctoral appointments at Tufts University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he conducted multiscale simulations and modelling of a broad range of biomaterials. Prof. Yeo received both his Ph.D. and B.Eng. degrees from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

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