Xin Ning

Xin Ning he/him/his

Assistant Professor

xning@illinois.edu

Education

Ph.D. in Aeronautics, California Institute of Technology, 2015
M.S. in Aeronautics, California Institute of Technology, 2010

Academic Positions

Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, August 2023 to Present
Assistant Professor, Materials Research Laboratory (0%), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, August 2023 to Present
Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, August 2018 to August 2023
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, August 2015 to June 2018
Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Aerospace Engineering, California Institute of Technology, June 2015 to August 2015

Research Interests

Soft electronics for aerospace engineering
Bio-inspired aerospace structures
In-space manufacturing and assembly
Multifunctional space structures

Research Areas

Aerospace Materials
Aerospace Structures
Space Systems
Structural Mechanics/Structural Dynamics Design

Selected Articles in Journals

Sepideh Ebad Sichani and Xin Ning. 2026. "Optimization, Additive Manufacturing, and Testing of Bird-Bone-Inspired Materials for Aircraft Wing Designs." International Journal of Solids and Structures.
Nikhil Ashok, Sangwoo Suk, Sven G. Bilen, and Xin Ning. 2025. "Shape-morphable origami electromagnetic waveguides." Communications Engineering, 4, 208.
Chloe Zarader and Xin Ning. 2025. "Structural Effects of Ply-level Imperfections and Extreme Temperatures on Bistable Ultra-Thin Composite Booms." Extreme Mechanics Letters. 102305.
Sepideh Ebad Sichani and Xin Ning. 2025. "Load-Bearing Wing Structures Inspired by Natural Cellular Materials". Journal of Applied Mechanics.
Yao Yao, Guanghui Li, Xin Ning. 2024. "Origami electronic membranes as highly shape-morphable mechanical and environmental sensing systems," Extreme Mechanics Letters, Volume 73, 102264.
Yao Yao, Juan M. Fernandez, Sven G. Bilen, Xin Ning. 2024. "Multifunctional bistable ultrathin composite booms with flexible electronics, Extreme Mechanics Letters, Volume 72, 102247.
Mitansh Doshi and Xin Ning. "Instability of Metamaterial-Based Thin Cylindrical Shells Under Axial Compression." Journal of Applied Mechanics. March 2024; 91(3): 031009.
Yao Yao and Xin Ning. "Soft electronic skin for self-deployable tape-spring hinges." Communications Engineering 3, 16 (2024).
Zhiyuan Chen, Khanh Nguyen, Grant Kowalik, Xinyu Shi, Jinbi Tian, Mitansh Doshi, Bridget R Alber, Xun Guan, Xitong Liu, Xin Ning, Matthew W Kay, Luyao Lu. "Transparent and Stretchable AuAg Nanowire Recording Microelectrode Arrays." Advanced Materials Technologies, 2201716, 2023.
Guanghui Li, Yao Yao (co-first author), Nikhil Ashok, Xin Ning. 2021. "Ultra-flexible Visible-blind Optoelectronics for Wired and Wireless Ultraviolet Sensing in Harsh Environments," Advanced Materials Technologies: 6, 2001125. Front Cover Highlight
Mitansh Doshi and Xin Ning. 2021. "A Data-Driven Framework for Buckling Analysis of Near-Spherical Composite Shells under External Pressure," Journal of Applied Mechanics: 88(8), 081007.
Samuel Schulman and Xin Ning. 2021. "A Geometry-based Framework for Modeling the Complexity of Origami Folding," Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Letters: 11, 100241.
Hangbo Zhao, Yongdeok Kim, Heling Wang, Xin Ning (co-first author), Chenkai Xu, Judy Suh, Mengdi Han, Gelson J. Pagan-Diaz, Wei Lu, Haibo Li, Wubin Bai, Onur Aydin, Yoonseok Park, Yao Yao, Yishan He, Taher Saif, Yonggang Huang, Rashid Bashir, and John A. Rogers. 2021. "Compliant 3D Frameworks Instrumented with Strain Sensors for Characterization of Millimeter-Scale Engineered Muscle Tissues," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: 118 (19), e2100077118.
Kewang Nan, Heling Wang, Xin Ning(co-first author), Kali A. Miller, Chen Wei, Yunpeng Liu, Haibo Li, Yeguang Xue, Zhaoqian Xie, Haiwen Luan, Yihui Zhang, Yonggang Huang, John A. Rogers, and Paul V. Braun. 2019. "Soft 3D Microscale Vibratory Platforms for Characterization of Nano-Thin Polymer Films." ACS Nano, 13: 449−457.
Xin Ning, Xinge Yu, Heling Wang, Rujie Sun, Rebecca Corman, Haibo Li, Chan Mi Lee, Yeguang Xue, Aditya Chempakasseril, Yao Yao, Ziqi Zhang, Haiwen Luan, Zizheng Wang, Wei Xia, Xue Feng, Randy H. Ewoldt, Yonggang Huang, Yihui Zhang, and John A. Rogers. 2018. "Mechanically Active Materials in Three-dimensional Mesostructures," Science Advances, 4 (9): eaat8313.
Xin Ning and Sergio Pellegrino. 2018. "Searching for Imperfection Insensitive Externally Pressurized Near-spherical Thin Shells." Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 120: 49-67.
Xinge Yu, Heling Wang, Xin Ning (co-first author), Rujie Sun, Marcela Salomao, Hassan Albadawi, Alvin C. Silva, Yang Yu, Limei Tian, Ahyeon Koh, Chan Mi Lee, Aditya Chempakasseril, Peilin Tian, Matt Pharr, Jianghong Yuan, Yonggang Huang, Rahmi Oklu, and John A. Rogers. 2018. "Needle-shaped Ultrathin Piezoelectric Microsystem for Guided Tissue Targeting via Mechanical Sensing." Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2: 165-172.
Xin Ning, Xueju Wang, Yi Zhang, Xinge Yu, Dongwhi Choi, Ning Zheng, Dong Sung Kim, Yong- gang Huang, Yihui Zhang, and John A. Rogers. 2018. "Assembly of Advanced Materials into Three-Dimensional Functional Structures by Methods Inspired by Origami and Kirigami: A Review." Advanced Materials Interfaces, 5: 1800284.
Xin Ning and Sergio Pellegrino. 2017. "Experiments on Imperfection Insensitive Axially Loaded Cylindrical Shells." International Journal of Solids and Structures, 115-116: 73-86.
Xin Ning, Heling Wang, Xinge Yu, Julio A.N.T. Soares, Zheng Yan, Kewang Nan, Gabriel Velarde, Yeguang Xue, Rujie Sun, Qiyi Dong, Haiwen Luan, Chan Mi Lee, Aditya Chempakasseril, Yiqi Wang, Luming Li, Yonggang Huang, Yihui Zhang, and John A. Rogers. 2017. "3D Tunable, Multiscale, and Multistable Vibrational Micro-Platforms Assembled by Compressive Buckling." Advanced Functional Materials, 27: 1605914.
Xin Ning and Sergio Pellegrino. 2016. "Bloch Wave Buckling Analysis of Axially Loaded Periodic Cylindrical Shells." Computers and Structures, 177: 114-125.
Xin Ning and Sergio Pellegrino. 2015. "Imperfection-Insensitive Axially Loaded Thin Cylindrical Shells," International Journal of Solids and Structures, 62: 39-51.

Articles in Conference Proceedings

Chloé Zarader and Xin Ning. “Thermoelastic Behavior of Pristine and Degraded Bistable Ultrathin Composite Booms in Low-Earth Orbits”. 2026 AIAA SciTech Forum: AIAA 2026-0800.
Yao Yao, Chloé Zarader, Xin Ning. “Development and Characterization of a Combined Low-Earth Orbit Environment Simulation Facility for Space Materials and Structures Research and Education”. 2026 AIAA SciTech Forum: AIAA 2026-0410.
Sepideh Ebad Sichani, Xin Ning. "Design and Optimization of Bird-Bone-Like Aircraft Wing Structures." AIAA 2024-1128. 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum, January 2024, Orlando, FL.
Yao Yao, Karel M. Ziminsky, Charles E. Bakis, Sven G. Bilen, and Xin Ning. "Bonding Glass Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites using Localized Embedded Ultrathin Heaters for On-Orbit Assembly." AIAA 2024-0826. 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum, January 2024, Orlando, FL.
Ayako Torisaka, Sven Bilen, Nikhil Ashok, Yao Yao and Xin Ning. "Adaptive ultra-lightweight patch antenna using Shape Memory Polymer." AIAA 2024-0187. 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum, January 2024, Orlando, FL.
Yao Yao, Alex Ambruso, Juan M. Fernandez, Sven Bilen, Xin Ning. "A Multifunctional Bistable Ultrathin Composite Boom for In-Space Monitoring of Deployment Dynamics." AIAA 2023-2400. 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum. January 2023. National Harbor, MD.
Nikhil Ashok, Sven Bilen, Xin Ning. "Origami-Inspired Deployable Electromagnetic Waveguides." AIAA 2023-1305. 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum. January 2023. National Harbor, MD.
Mitansh Doshi, Xin Ning. "Buckling of Metamaterial-Based Cylindrical Shells Under Axial Compression." AIAA 2023-2419. 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum. January 2023. National Harbor, MD.
Chole Zarader, Xin Ning. "Effects of Ply-level Imperfections and Space Environment on Bistability of Ultrathin Composite Booms." AIAA 2023-0939. 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum. January 2023. National Harbor, MD.
Yao Yao, Guanghui Li, Xin Ning. 2021. "Ultra-thin, Ultra-lightweight Structural Electronic Skin for Measurements of Tape-spring Hinge Behavior." AIAA 2021-1607. 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum, Virtual.
Nikhil Ashok, Xin Ning. 2021. "Coupled Effects of Imperfections and Low Temperatures on the Buckling of Ultrathin CFRP Cylindrical Shells: A Numerical Study." AIAA 2021-0438. 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum, Virtual.
Samuel Schulman, Xin Ning. 2021. "Quantifying the Complexity of Folding Origami Membranes." AIAA 2021-1384. 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum, Virtual.
Mitansh Doshi, Xin Ning. 2021. "Machine-Learning Based Design of Near-Spherical Shells under External Pressure." AIAA 2021-0308. 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum, Virtual.
Yao Yao, Jacob Taylor, Luke Cirullo, Rainmar Leguarda, Brett Sheeran, Xin Ning. 2019. "Ultra-Thin, Ultra-Lightweight, and Multifunctional Skin for Highly Deformable Structures." AIAA 2019-2028. 2019 AIAA SciTech Forum. January 2019. San Diego, CA.
Xin Ning and Sergio Pellegrino. 2015. "Buckling Analysis of Axially Loaded Corrugated Cylindrical Shells." AIAA 2015-1435. 2015 AIAA SDM Conference, January 2015, Kissimmee, FL.
Xin Ning and Sergio Pellegrino. 2013. "Imperfection-Insensitive Axially Loaded Cylindrical Shells." AIAA 2013-1768. 2013 AIAA SDM Conference. April 2013, Boston, MA.
Xin Ning and Sergio Pellegrino. 2012. "Design of Lightweight Structural Components for Direct Digital Manufacturing." AIAA 2012-1807. 2012 AIAA SDM Conference. Honolulu, HI.

Honors

Young Investigator Award, Office of Naval Research (2022)
Haythornthwaite Foundation Research Initiation Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2019)
Illinois Scholars Undergraduate Research Program Mentor Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2016)
William F. Ballhaus Prize, California Institute of Technology (2015)
Dow-Resnick Fellowship, Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech (2012)
Charles D. Babcock Memorial Award, California Institute of Technology (2012)
Rolf D. Buhler Memorial Award, California Institute of Technology (2010 )