June 1, 2023 New Mechanical Engineering Faculty: Lei Zhou Written By: Caitlin Scott Departments: Mechanical Engineering Categories: Faculty Dr. Lei Zhou will join the Department of Mechanical Engineering as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2023! Zhou’s research centers on the design and control of precision mechatronic systems for various applications such as manufacturing equipment, scientific instruments, and robots. She has conducted research in topics including precision motion control, actuators for satellite attitude control, high-torque direct-drive electric machines, magnetic suspensions and bearingless motors, and precision motion systems for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Zhou will be moving her precision mechatronics and control lab (PMCL) to UW and will become a member of WEMPEC. She will have a 25% appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering, 75% in ME. Zhou received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2019. She also holds an MS (2014) in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and a BE (2012) in Control and Instrumentation Engineering from Tsinghua University in China. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering at University of Texas at Austin.