About me 🌟

👋 Hi there, I’m Aoyan Liang — a computational materials scientist working as a Senior Engineer at Seagate Technology in Fremont, California.

I recently completed my Ph.D. in Materials Science at the University of Southern California (USC), where I also earned two Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Materials Science. My journey has taken me across academia, national labs, and industry — shaping how I approach complex materials problems with both scientific depth and practical impact.

🔍 What I Do

At Seagate, I work on computational modeling and simulations to understand material behavior and support the development of next-generation heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technologies.

My work spans designing and running simulations, analyzing complex datasets to extract physical insights, and optimizing models to improve performance and reliability. I also collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate simulation results into informed R&D decisions.

I enjoy turning computational insights into practical guidance that helps accelerate real-world technology development.

🧠 Interests & Expertise

My interests lie at the intersection of computational materials science and AI for science.

I combine density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD), Monte Carlo (MC), and machine learning to investigate composition–processing–structure–property relationships and design advanced materials.

I am particularly interested in how data-driven approaches can enhance experimental design and complement traditional physics-based modeling, enabling more efficient and insightful materials discovery.

🧪 Background & Collaborations

Before joining Seagate full-time, I conducted simulation-driven materials research across academia and national laboratory settings, including collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under the guidance of Dr. Vasily Bulatov.

At USC, I was part of Prof. Paulo Branicio’s research group, where I developed computational approaches to study thin film microstructure formation, alloy deformation, interfaces, and energy landscapes in complex materials.

🤝 Let’s Connect

I’m passionate about bridging theory, simulation, and real-world applications.

I’m always open to meaningful conversations, collaborations, and new ideas in materials modeling and AI-driven discovery.

_{Last updated: April 15, 2026}