YIP, offered through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, has selected 40 researchers to honor this year. The program will award $15 million in grants for projects linked to Air Force interests.

Wang will receive a grant for his project “Multi-Physics Coupled Wireless Antenna Sensor for Structural Health Monitoring.” The grant will be given over a three- to five-year period.

Only researchers who have received a Ph.D. within the past five years are eligible for YIP grants, and awardees are also required to “show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research.”

Wang is an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In addition to structural health monitoring and damage detection, his research interests include earthquake engineering and structural dynamics. He is a member of IEEE and the American Society of Civil Engineers.