Xin Sun

Bio

Dr. Xin Sun is the Associate Laboratory Director of the Energy Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Dr. Sun received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1995. She was recently the Division Director for the Energy and Transportation Science Division at ORNL. Prior to joining ORNL, Dr. Sun was a Laboratory Fellow and Technical Group Leader for Computational Engineering at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.  She worked at Edison Welding Institute and Battelle prior to joining PNNL in 2004. 

Dr. Sun is well known for applying the fundamental mechanics and physics principles in developing multi-scale characterization and simulation tools to accelerate the development to deployment cycles of lightweight metals and advanced energy systems. She is an international authority in Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), and has led a multitude of research initiatives with ICME principle in the areas of carbon capture simulation, advanced high strength steel development, lightweight metals (aluminum and magnesium) manufacturing process optimization and performance simulations, solid oxide fuel cell design and analyses, advanced laminated and glass/ceramic armor materials development, joining and forming of advanced lightweight materials for automotive and heavy vehicle applications. 

Dr. Sun is a prolific researcher with more than 170 peer-reviewed journal publications and 10 books/book chapters.  She has delivered more than 60 invited talks and has received multiple prestigious awards, which include Institute Medal Awards (2019, 2018) American Iron and Steel Institute, Research Leadership Award, Division Level (2018) UT-Battelle, R&D100 (2016), University of Michigan Alumni Society Merit Award (2009), PNNL Laboratory Director’s Award for Exceptional Engineering Achievement (2008), Barbour Scholarship for Oriental Women at University of Michigan (1993).  Dr. Sun has also been an adjunct professor at Washington State University, where she taught a graduate course on elasticity.