Institut für Photonik News
Congratulations to Ms. Ranran Zhang on Earning Her PhD!

Congratulations to Ms. Ranran Zhang on Earning Her PhD!

Figure 1: Ph.D. defense of Ms. Ranran Zhang in July 2026 (from left to right: Prof. Dr. Xiaoying Zhuang, Ms. Ranran Zhang, and Prof. Dr. Thomas Wick)
Figure 2: Celebrating the successful completion of Ms. Ranran Zhang’s Ph.D. defense

We are delighted to announce that Ms. Ranran Zhang successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis on 16 July 2026. Her thesis, entitled “Multiscale Modeling of Flexoelectric Nanostructures: From Atomistic Scale Model to Continuum Model”, is the result of years of hard work and dedication. The examination committee was chaired by Prof. Dr. Thomas Wick and comprised Prof. Dr. Xiaoying Zhuang and two external members, Prof. Dr. Pedro Areias and Prof. Dr. Yanyu Chen. The doctoral research was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Xiaoying Zhuang. The defense took place in Building 1105, Room 001, Welfengarten 1A, and was also available via an online meeting.

Ms. Zhang's research focuses on the multiscale modeling of flexoelectric nanostructures, with particular emphasis on bridging atomistic-scale models and continuum models. Her work contributes to a deeper understanding of electromechanical coupling effects at the nanoscale and provides computational approaches for describing complex material behavior across different length scales.

By connecting atomistic mechanisms with continuum-level formulations, this study offers valuable insights into the modeling and design of advanced functional nanomaterials. The research demonstrates the importance of multiscale computational methods in capturing the behavior of flexoelectric structures and supports further developments in computational mechanics, materials modeling, and nanotechnology.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Ms. Ranran Zhang on this outstanding achievement and wish her every success in the next stage of her academic and professional career.