Yan Jin

Biography

Dr. Yan Jin is Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California and Director of USC IMPACT Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. degree in Naval Engineering from The University of Tokyo and did his PosDoc research at Stanford University. Dr. Jin has done research on AI/ML in design & manufacturing, design theory & methodology, and multiagent & self-organizing systems, organization modeling & project management, and collaborative engineering. Prior to joining USC faculty in the Fall of 1996, Dr. Jin worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Stanford University. His current research interests include AI/ML in systems engineering, design cognition & methods, and complexity & complex systems. Dr. Jin is a recipient of ASME DTM Award (2025), National Science Foundation CAREER Award (1998), Northrop Grumman Excellence in Teaching Award (2001), Best Paper in Human Information Systems (5th World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 2001), and DTM Best Paper Awards (ASME, 2021 & 2002). He served as the Editor-in-Chief of AIEDAM (AI for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing) (2012-2017), Associate Editor of Design Science (2014 - Present) and of JMD (Journal of Mechanical Design) (2005-2012), and a Editorial Board Member of journals of Advanced Engineering Informatics (AEI), Design Creativity and Innovation (IJDCI), and Recent Patents on Mechanical Engineering. In addition, Dr. Jin served as Program Chair (2004) and Conference Chair (2005) of ASME DTM Conference, Executive Committee Member and Chair of the Honors & Awards Committee of ASME Design Engineering Division (2011 – 2014). Dr. Jin was a UPS Foundation Visiting Professor at Stanford University from 2004 to 2006. He worked as a Senior Engineer (adjunct) at RAND Corporation, and a Guest Professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University (2011-2014). Dr. Jin is a Fellow of ASME (since 2010).