Yaoli Zhao, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Associate at Tufts University working at the intersection of material science, chemical engineering, and advanced instrumentation. Her research focuses on developing multimodal sensing and imaging platforms that integrate optical spectroscopy, nanomechanical transduction, and AI analytics to enable real-time, molecular-level characterization of chemical and environmental systems. Dr. Zhao has developed multiple analytical instruments from the ground up, including ultrasensitive photothermal and nanomechanical sensing platforms. She has authored 18 peer-reviewed publications, holds three invention disclosures, and is a recipient of multiple awards, including the Electrochemical Society Outstanding Research Award, recognizing her contributions to next-generation sensing technologies.