Dr Yu Chen is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Materials Science and Engineering in the Department of Materials, Design and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Liverpool. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Exeter (2021), an M.Sc. in Advanced Engineering Materials from the University of Manchester (2016), and a B.Eng. in Functional Materials from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Prior to joining Liverpool, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Exeter. Dr Chen’s research focuses on the design and additive manufacturing of architected porous and fibrous ceramic materials for thermal protection, fire resistance, and lifetime extension in extreme environments. His work on polymeric additive manufacturing and ceramic composites addresses challenges in energy systems, maritime infrastructure, and electronic thermal management, with an emphasis on process–structure–property relationships and industrial translation. He combines advanced manufacturing, nano-/microstructural engineering, and high-temperature characterisation to develop lightweight, non-metallic materials for net-zero technologies. Dr Chen is a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).