Shu Yang is a Professor of Materials Science Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2025, she was named to the Inaugural Nat Geo 33 Extraordinary Changemaker List, in recognition of her work taking inspiration from nature to develop game-changing ideas for real-world solutions. This year, she was named the 2027 recipient of the Award for Excellence in Adhesion Science. Sponsored by 3M, this is the Adhesion Society’s premier award for outstanding achievements in scientific research, contributions to the field, and longstanding impact to the field with worldwide recognition. Her work integrates concepts from biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering, and design to create materials and structures across scales, which can sense, respond, and adapt to changing environments. She leads interdisciplinary initiatives that would advance sustainability, climate resilience, soft robotics, coatings, adhesives, advanced manufacturing, and human health. Yang is a Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Materials Research Society (MRS), American Chemical Society (ACS), American Physical Society (APS), and National Academy of Inventors (NAI).