Dr. Hua Qian Ang (Vivian)
Senior Lecturer and Researcher (RMIT)
Founder and Cartoonist (EPIC Engineering Comic)
Dr Hua Qian Ang is the Founder of EPIC Engineering Comic, a Chartered Engineer of Engineers Australia and an Engineering Educator, Researcher and Cartoonist.
Dr Ang is passionate about teaching engineering, and she wants to make engineering learning fun and engaging. She founded EPIC Engineering Comic in 2023 with a mission to impart authentic engineering knowledge and inspire people around the world into engineering through imaginative storytelling with visual arts. Dr Ang completed her PhD in 2017 and her research areas are focused on the mechanical properties and deformation behaviour of light alloys, in particular magnesium alloys. She is also interested in additive manufacturing and laser processing of metals and alloys, and she has extensive experience in microstructural characterisation in evaluation and improvement of alloys' mechanical properties. Dr Ang currently holds multiple volunteering positions.
Professional societies of which Dr Ang is currently a member are:
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Engineers Australia
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Australasian Association for Engineering Education
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
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Research experience in high-pressure die-casting and solidification processes
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Extensive experience in material characterisation of metals and alloys, including sample preparation and etching, characterisation of two-dimensional and three-dimensional intermetallic phases using SEM and FIB, respectively, phase identification with EDS technique as well as twin quantification using EBSD
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Regularly work on 3D X-ray microscopic CT Scanner for porosity quantification and fractographic analysis
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Skilled in mechanical testing of advanced materials and the use of FE modelling using Abaqus for verification purpose
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Advanced knowledge in the different types of deformation mechanisms, such as slip and twinning systems in magnesium and alloys
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Familiarity with 3D printing and additive layer manufacturing technology
EDUCATION
RMIT University, Australia (2014 - 2017)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
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Experience in material analysis with the aim of improving the mechanical properties of commercial die-cast magnesium-aluminium based alloys
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Doctoral research titled "Mechanical properties and deformation behaviour of high-pressure die-cast magnesium-aluminium based alloys"
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First-authored and co-authored papers in high-impact journals
RMIT University, Australia (2011-2013)
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (Honours)
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Achieved a GPA of 4.0/4.0 and High Distinction (HD) in all subjects
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Carried out a research on stress concentrations for plates with holes and successfully designed and built a robotic tripod dolly which can be operated by a remote controller and it filled a design niche that had never been fulfilled
Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Singapore (2008-2011)
Diploma in Digital and Precision Engineering with specialisation in Integrated CAD/CAM Technology and Product Innovation & Rapid Prototyping
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Admitted to Director’s List twice (top 15% of the cohort)
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SKILLS
Software Skills:
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Aztec HKL CHANNEL 5 (post-EBSD analysis), PANDAT CompuTherm, ImageJ, PLM Arena, WITNESS Software, Festo FluidSIM Software, Design-Ease, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office
CAD and FEA Modelling Skills:
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AutoCAD, Solidworks, Abaqus FEA, Unigraphics NX5, CATIA
Machining Skills:
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Instron Universal Testing Machine, Struers grinding and polishing machine, Makino milling and turning machines, AgieCharmilles CNC and EDM wire-cut, Laser cutting machine Trumpf, Wire-arc additive manufacturing
Microscopy Skills:
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Leica optical microscopes, SEM, TEM, 3D X-ray microscopic CT Scanner
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
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Winner and People's Choice of 2014 RMIT Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition
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Regularly participate in seminars and conferences
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Fluent in spoken and written English, Mandarin Chinese, and Malay
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Fluent in spoken Cantonese, Taiwanese Hokkien.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Current Research Interests
Metals and Alloys & Additive Manufacturing
Focus on understanding and improving the mechanical properties and deformation behaviour of metals and alloys, in particular magnesium alloys to help towards commercial development for different applications, such as automotive, biomedical and others. Fabrication of metal and alloy components by additive manufacturing is also of interest. Additive manufacturing does not only produce complex structures and parts, it can also control the microstructures of the alloys to achieve the desired properties.
Past Research Topics
Automotive Safety in Side Impact Crashes: Optimisation of Side Impact Beam
Focus on strengthening the vehicle side door with a side impact beam to minimise the passenger compartment penetration while strange object intrudes into the cabin space, and consequently reducing severe accident injuries and death. This research hopes to investigate the advantageous mechanical properties of cellular solids and develop a side impact beam with cellular structures to maximise impact energy absorption and minimise the weight added to the structure.
Biomimicking of Natural Cellular Structures in Automotive Safety
Cellular structures are mechanically efficient. The material porosity may serve a variety of functions, including provision for high stiffness and crash energy absorption. Examples of these cellular structures are wide spread in nature, such as wood, cork, plant stems and even leaves. For example, the honeycomb-like microstructures of wood and cork and the polyhedral cell structures found in plant stems give an exceptionally high performance index for resisting bending and buckling. This research hopes to emulate similar natural cellular structures in vehicle design.
EMPLOYMENT
Academia
2023-Current
Founder, Cartoonist and Illustrator
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Explain complex engineering topics, concepts, research in language understandable by everyone through imaginative storytelling with visual arts
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Make engineering fun and interesting
2023-Current
Senior Lecturer and Researcher
2014-2022
Lecturer & Researcher
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Research areas include metals and alloys, magnesium alloys, additive manufacturing and laser processing
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Teach mechanical and materials-related engineering courses at RMIT Melbourne and RMIT International (e.g., Kaplan Singapore, VTC Hong Kong and Shandong University)
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Other roles include:
Program manager of offshore Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering program (2022-2026)
Deputy Accreditation Manager for School of Engineering (2023-2024)
Program Initiator and Leader for RMIT STEM-MUST FIE Joint Offshore PhD Program
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Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students
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Regularly involved in journal article and grant writing
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Interact and collaborate with researchers and industry partners
Industry
2011-2013
FARO Technologies Inc., Singapore
Assistant Engineer
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Provided technical support to external and internal customers, assisted engineers in product design using Autocad and NX5.0 and developed engineering drawings.
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Improved product performance by reviewing computer data in regard to how specific shapes transmit energy across their surfaces and using it to pinpoint areas where stress within the part can lead to failure.
2010
Intern
FARO Technologies Inc., Headquarters, Florida
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Participated in FARO biggest project of the year-Airbus Testing using FARO portable measurement equipment and significantly improved the model to prevent unnecessary failures
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Successfully designed a more efficient way in processing 3D data by reducing the point clouds to surfaces
ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERING
2024 - Current : Mentor; Dandenong High School Design Engineering Academy
2024 : Lead Guest Editor; Special Issue Crystals Journal by MDPI
2023 - Current : Office Bearer; Engineers Australia National Mechanical College
2023 - 2024 : Mentor; CSIRO's Innovate to Grow Program
2023 : Advisory Committee; 3rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Materials &
Manufacturing Technologies (IMMT)
2022 : Mentor; APEC-Australia Women in Research Fellowship
2022 - Current : Mentor; RMIT BOOST Academic Promotion Program
2018 - Current : Project Coordinator; Not-for-Profit Organisations (EWB, etc.)
2016 - Current : Editorial Board Member and Reviewer; Top Engineering Journals
2016 - Current : Organiser; Engineering events for students
ACHIEVEMENTS (AWARDS/GRANTS/ SCHOLARSHIPS)
Professional
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RMIT Vice Chancellor's Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning 2023
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Edified Energiser Grant 2023
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RMIT Bridging Innovations in Health, Science and Technology 2023 Symposium Informative Infographic Outstanding Poster Award
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RMIT Women Researchers' Network 2023 Symposium Best Poster Award in the Early Career Researcher category
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RMIT STEM Teaching Excellence Award 2023
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Adobe x Creative Curriculum Grant 2023
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Rated "Outstanding" in Education domain by Academic Promotion Committee 2022
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RMIT School of Engineering Early Career Teaching Award 2021 (highest teaching performance in 2020)
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RMIT Bundoora ECR Network Symposium 2019 Best Presentation Award-School of Engineering
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2018 RMIT SEH College Pro Vice-Chancellor Prize: Higher Degree by Research – School of Engineering
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2018 HDR Ford Publication Commendation Prize
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RMIT Lecturer Early Career Development Fellowship 2017-2020
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RMIT Higher Degree by Research Publications Grant (HDRPG) 2017
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RMIT PhD International Scholarship (RPIS) 2015-2017 and PhD top-up scholarship in High Performance Magnesium Alloys under Australian Research Council 2015-2017
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Dean's Commendation of Teaching Excellence 2017-2020
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Winner: RMIT SAMME school level
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People’s Choice Award: SEH semi-finals
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Winner and People’s Choice: RMIT Final 2014
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Represented RMIT in the 2014 Trans-Tasman 3MT competition at the University of Western Australia on 3 November 2014.
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Top 100, Airbus Fly Your Ideas 2015 competition
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Notable High Achiever, SEH Student Choice Teaching Awards 2014 by RMIT
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“Super-engineering” Award by RMIT for Academic Year 2013
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"Most Creative Assignment" Award by RMIT for Academic Year 2012
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NYP Director’s List for outstanding academic performance Award
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Academic Year 2009/2010 Semester 1
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Academic Year 2010/2011 Semester 1
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Digital and Precision Engineering Scholarship by Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) 2008-2011
Athletics
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Top 10 in IODA World Sailing Championship 2004
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2nd runner up in “Girls Under-15” category in Asean Games 2004
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Champion in Malaysian Games "Girls" category in 2004; 2nd runner up in 2006
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Other awards including "Penang's Best Athlete under-15", "Best Sailor 2004"
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Won numerous awards in athletic events such as marathon, long-jumping and sailing