Professor Jia Nan’s research group at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, NEU has established an undergraduate training model centered on research training, characterized by “research supporting teaching, projects driving innovation, competitions validating outcomes, and graduation projects fostering continuous improvement.” By leveraging the Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program, academic competitions, and graduation projects, the research group continuously enhances undergraduates’ learning abilities, research literacy, and innovative practical skills. In 2026, faculty members in the research group successively guided three groups of undergraduates—totaling 13 students—in conducting research training through the Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program. They published papers titled “Effect of stress-induced B2-to-fcc phase transformation on the work hardening behavior of NiFeAl eutectic alloys” and “Effect of grain size on precipitation behavior in FeMnCoCrNiAlTi high-entropy alloy” in the renowned SCI journals in the field of metallic materials Acta Metallurgica Sinica and Intermetallics. The research group also received honors including the First Prize in the Undergraduate Division of the “2026 National College Students’ Mechanical Engineering Innovation and Creativity Competition—Material Heat Treatment Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest” and the Second Prize in the Team Category of the “National College Students’ Metallographic Skills Competition—Track 3.”
Figure 1 Research findings on the microstructural deformation mechanisms of NiFeAl eutectic alloys
Figure 2 Research findings on the precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of FeMnCoCrNiAlTi high-entropy alloys as influenced by grain size
Figure 3 Certificates of Achievement for students participating in academic competitions
This series of achievements were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. The Instrument Sharing Platform at the Analytical Testing Center and the Experimental Center of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at NEU provided crucial technical support for mechanical property testing and detailed microstructural characterization during the research.
