Yan’s recent research efforts concentrate on carbon coating phenomena and its application. Research interests: porous materials, graphene oxide/graphene, nanomaterials composites synthesis with controllable size and shape, polymer composites synthesis, water filterers, and batteries. Before joining Dr. Silva’s group, she got her Master’s degree from Tianjin University (2009-2012) in China and was a Ph.D. candidate at Lousiana State University (2013-2015), US.