Zhongshu Ren

Brookhaven National Laboratory

National Synchrotron Light Source II
Bldg. 745, Room 5L140
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-6226
zren2@bnl.gov

Expertise | Education | Appointments | Publications | Highlights | Awards | Certifications

Expertise

• high-precision Advanced Manufacturing
• Advanced Characterization
• Artificial Intelligence

Education

• Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering (2020): Virginia Tech
• B.E. in Ocean Engineering (2014): Tianjin University

Professional Appointments

• Assistant Physicist, National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), 2024
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2023
• Research Associate, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Virginia, 2020

Selected Publications

• Ren Z, Gao L, Clark SJ, et al (2023) Machine learning–aided real-time detection of keyhole pore generation in laser powder bed fusion. Science 379:89–94. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add4667
• Ren Z, Shao J, Liu H, et al (2024) Sub-millisecond keyhole pore detection in laser powder bed fusion using sound and light sensors and machine learning. Materials Futures. https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/ad89e2
• Ren Z, Clark SJ, Gao L, et al (2025) A mechanistic study on environment gas in laser powder bed fusion. Additive Manufacturing 109:104886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2025.104886
• Gao L, Mumm K, Ren Z, et al (2026) Operando X-ray scattering reveals ordering-mediated solidification in additive manufacturing. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73647-3

Research Highlights

• Ensuring flawless metal 3D printing: New research tackles high-fidelity, high-resolution process monitoring
• Researchers unveil new AI-driven method for improving additive manufacturing
• Detecting 3D-Printing Defects in Real Time
• Collaborative team wins top awarding in 4-VA

Awards & Recognition

• Graduate Paper Award from Society of Naval Architect and Marine Engineers (SNAME), 2020
• John L. Pratt Fellowship from Virginia Tech, 2019
• Audience Choice Award in Three Minute Thesis Competition from Virginia Tech, 2019
• 1st Place Graduate Student Poster Competition from American Society of Naval Engineers, 2017
• David A. O’Neil Graduate Scholarship from SNAME, 2016

Certifications

• Certified Open Water Diver, 2026
• Certified Completion of Professional Grant Development Workshop, 2023
• Certified Drone Pilot, 2019
• Certified LabVIEW Associated Developer, 2017-2019