Professor Sichen Yuan
Ph.D.
Faculty, Lab Director, Principal Investigator
Meet Our Team
Ph.D. Students
Christian Kazoleas
Christian Kazoleas is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at The University of Alabama. He joined Prof. Yuan’s DR^2R Lab as an undergraduate student researcher in 2020. His primary area of focus centers around the project involving micro-scale tensegrity drug delivery robots. His academic pursuit and research inclinations converge upon the domains of additive manufacturing, deployable structures, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Christian’s academic journey culminated in attaining a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI, in 2023.
Na Tan
Na Tan is currently a Ph.D. candidate within the Department of Mechanical, Robotics, and Industrial Engineering at Lawrence Technological University. She joined Prof. Yuan’s DR^2R Lab in 2021, dedicating her efforts to the Optimal Design, Dynamic Modeling, and Control of Large Deployable Mesh Reflectors. Her research encompasses areas such as form finding, thermodynamic modeling, and active shape adjustment of space mesh antennas. Na completed her B.S. in 2019 at Liaoning Technical University in Liaoning, China. She then earned her M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, U.S.A., in 2021.
Jiajun Zhang
Jiajun Zhang is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at The University of Alabama. In 2023, he joined Prof. Yuan’s DR^2R Lab, where his primary concentration revolves around soft robots and tensegrity structures. Jiajun’s research interest includes soft robotics, nonlinear dynamics and vibrations. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, in 2020. He continued his studies at Virginia Tech, obtaining his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2023.
Pacifique Uwajambo
Pacifique Uwajambo is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at The University of Alabama. He joined Prof. Yuan’s DR^2R Lab as a PhD student researcher in 2025. He is mainly focusing on research related to dynamics, vibration and control of tensegrity structures and robotics. His professional career involved mechanical engineering, flight dispatch in Rwanda and mechanical engineering analysis consultancy in Sweden. Pacifique’s academic background includes a Bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda, in 2014 and, a Master of science in mechanical engineering with emphasis on structures mechanics from Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden, in 2021.
New Member
Will join in 2025 Fall.
New Member
Will join in 2025 Fall.
Undergraduate Students
Logan Orr
Logan Orr is an undergraduate student in the department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Alabama. He joined Prof. Yuan’s DR^2R Lab as an undergraduate student researcher in 2023. His primary area of research involves the actuation system of deployable redundant tensegrity robot arms for space debris mitigation. His work also involves the kinematics and dynamics of the robot arms. His research is guided by a desire to develop spacecraft systems to enable long term deep space human exploration.
Kyle Donahue
Kyle Donahue is an undergraduate student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Alabama. He joined Prof. Yuan’s DR^2R Lab as an undergraduate student researcher in 2023. His primary area of research involves the deployment system of deployable redundant tensegrity robot arms for space debris mitigation. His work also involves utilizing and developing mechatronic systems for precise control actuation. His research is guided by a desire to participate in the future of human spaceflight and the exploration of the outer solar system.
Lawson McVay
Lawson McVay is an undergraduate at the University of Alabama pursuing a double major in Aerospace Engineering and Physics. He joined Professor Yuan’s DS^2R Lab as an undergraduate researcher through the Randall Research Scholars Program, with his research concentrating on the structural design and actuation of tensegrity-based robot arms for in-orbit application. Lawson’s academic pursuits are guided by a strong interest in the technologies and missions that support human spaceflight.
Stephen Frank
Stephen Frank is an undergraduate student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Alabama. He joined the DS^2R Lab as an undergraduate freshman in 2024. His primary focus is the design and development of a deployable redundant tensegrity robot arm for the removal of space debris. This work involves the programing and wiring of robotic components. His research is provoked by the desire for future generations to have access to space.