Shu Yang is a Professor in the Departments of Materials Science & Engineering, and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at University of Pennsylvania. Yang received her B.S. degree from Fudan University in 1992, and Ph. D. degree from Cornell University in 1999. She worked at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies as a Member of Technical Staff before joining Penn in 2004.

Her group is interested in synthesis, fabrication, and assembly of polymers, gels, liquid crystals, colloids, and composite materials; investigation of the dynamic tuning of their sizes, shape and assembled structures, and use geometry to create highly flexible, super-conformable, and shape changing materials. Combining novel materials at the nanoscale and geometric designs at micro- and macroscales, the Yang lab explores unique surface, optical, and mechanical properties for potential applications, including coatings, adhesives, displays, (bio)sensors, energy efficient building skins, soft robotics, biomedical devices, and wearable technology.