Hongyi Xu is an Associate Professor in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Connecticut (UConn). He received his B.S. from Northeastern University (China), M.S. from Tsinghua University (China), and PhD from Northwestern University (USA). His research lies at the intersection of generative AI, architectured material design, digital/cyber manufacturing, and uncertainty quantification. Before joining UConn, Dr. Xu worked at Ford Motor Company and pioneered computational methods for Integrated Computational Materials Engineering and structure optimization for vehicle safety and lightweighting. His research has been recognized with an NSF CAREER Award, the ASME Design Automation Young Investigator Award, selection for the National Academy of Engineering EU-US Frontiers of Engineering symposium, multiple Best Paper/Editor’s Choice Awards from ASME and the Tire Society, and multiple ASME Reviewers’ Awards