New appointments strengthen materials research at Imperial

As part of Women at Imperial Week, we interviewed two new appointments in the Department of Materials at Imperial, Dr Jing Yang and Professor Nosipho Moloto, who bring expertise in computational materials science and nanotechnology.

Women at Imperial Week celebrates the achievements of Imperial’s staff, students, and alumni, and raises awareness of support and initiatives across the university.

Exploring materials at the atomic level

Dr Jing Yang joins Imperial as Assistant Professor of Theory and Simulation of Materials. She previously worked at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in Düsseldorf and held a postdoctoral position at EPFL.

By bridging simulation and experiment, we hope to accelerate materials innovation using computational insights Dr Jing Yang Assistant Professor of Theory and Simulation of Materials

Her research uses computer simulations to study how materials behave at the atomic scale. “I use computer simulations to predict how materials behave. These simulations reveal the underlying mechanisms at the atomic level and translate them into design principles, accelerating the search for new materials,” she says.

She focuses particularly on electrochemical processes, which underpin technologies for clean energy generation, carbon-neutral fuels, and lightweight structural materials. “By bridging simulation and experiment, we hope to accelerate materials innovation using computational insights,” Dr Yang adds. Her group is also exploring machine learning to model more complex systems efficiently and connect simulations with real-world experiments.

Functional nanomaterials for global challenges

Professor Nosipho Moloto joins Imperial as Provost’s Visiting Professor of Nanotechnology from the University of Witwatersrand, where she serves as Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Director of the ARUA Centre of Excellence in Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology.

Engaging with diverse perspectives has helped us integrate new methodologies and translate fundamental materials science into practical solutions Professor Nosipho Moloto Provost’s Visiting Professor of Nanotechnology

Her research focuses on developing functional materials to address pressing needs in the Global South, including water purification, sustainable energy, biomedical technologies, and low-cost sensors. She is currently commercialising a wound dressing for deep chronic wounds. “Chronic wounds, often associated with diabetes and vascular disease, affect tens of millions of people globally and can lead to infection, disability, and even amputation if not treated effectively,” she explains. “This problem is particularly severe in low- and middle-income regions, where limited access to advanced wound care means many wounds remain untreated or poorly managed, making affordable and effective solutions especially important.”

Professor Moloto collaborates internationally across disciplines, engaging with groups in Europe, the UK, and BRICS countries. “Engaging with diverse perspectives has helped us integrate new methodologies and translate fundamental materials science into practical solutions,” she says.

Research and collaboration at Imperial

Dr Yang is motivated by Imperial’s diverse research environment. “Imperial provides a very diverse environment both in terms of research topics and in terms of the student and faculty body,” she says. “I’m excited to establish new research collaborations and interact with a multicultural community.” She hopes her work will inspire students to see computational modelling as a creative tool for exploring and designing new materials.

Professor Moloto also sees her time at Imperial as an opportunity to support and mentor the next generation of researchers. She plans to work with postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows through collaborative research programmes, while helping to strengthen international partnerships and cross-disciplinary initiatives.