Sustainable Building Material Laboratory
Research Field
BoSheng Liu has long been engaged in architectural design, digital fabrication, and building materials research, with a focus on the integrated application of spatial composition, architectural theory, and carbon-sequestering building materials. He is the principal investigator of the Sustainable Building Material Lab at Feng Chia University and the founder of Mao.Jin.Dao Design. His professional work has been recognized with multiple international design awards, including several honors from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). His research and design approach is regionally recognized and begins with real-world challenges, guiding architecture to respond to environmental, material, structural, and user needs, while remaining committed to cultivating architectural and civil engineering professionals with innovative thinking and strong practical capabilities.
The Sustainable Building Material Laboratory at Feng Chia University is organized into two primary research sections: organic materials and inorganic materials. The organic materials section focuses on bio-based systems, investigating organic substrates such as bamboo fiber for use in mycelium-embedded high-performance composite materials. The inorganic materials section is dedicated to the development of low-carbon construction technologies, including geopolymer-based materials and reusable casting formwork systems.
The organic materials laboratory is fully equipped with BSL-1 negative-pressure containment hoods and workstations, cultivation boxes, and supporting facilities for biological material research. The inorganic materials laboratory is equipped with multiple heavy-duty mixers, chemical mixers, vibration tables, air-circulation ovens, and a three-axis additive manufacturing system with an infinite pump for material extrusion. In addition, the lab has access to advanced material characterization and testing facilities, including thermal conductivity testing, universal testing machines, SEM–EDS, XRF, and related analytical techniques to support comprehensive material performance evaluation.
The Sustainable Building Material Lab focuses on three core research areas. The first explores the use of bamboo fiber as an organic substrate for mycelium growth, aiming to develop bio-based, carbon-sequestering composite materials with high performance and architectural applicability. This research investigates material cultivation, structural behavior, and scalability for construction use. The second research area centers on geopolymer-based materials, including geopolymer concrete (geo-crete), geofoam, geo-pervious-crete, and geo-bricks, with an emphasis on reducing cement-related carbon emissions while enhancing mechanical performance, durability, and environmental resilience. The third research area examines reusable casting formwork and digital fabrication technologies, integrating material research with computational design and additive manufacturing to develop efficient, low-waste construction systems and circular building processes.
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honorable Mention Award, Makers Category
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Merit Award, Commercial Building Category
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Merit Award, Student Graduate Thesis Category
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Award, Student Undergraduate Thesis Category
Kent State University, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Master of Architecture
Kent State University, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Job Description
We’re seeking applicants who:
- Are passionate about material research and experimental inquiry.
- Have a strong interest in organic and/or inorganic material systems.
- Communicate ideas clearly and effectively, and are open to critique and feedback.
- Align with and actively contribute to the lab’s evolving research vision.
- Are self-motivated, inventive, and proactive in pursuing research questions.
- Can adapt to new directions, methods, or challenges with a growth-oriented mindset.
- Enjoy collaboration and contribute constructively within a team-based research environment.
- Are capable of data collection, processing, and basic analysis.
- Are able to contribute to academic writing, including the preparation of journal manuscripts.
- Are willing to learn and operate a range of experimental tools and methods, including thermal conductivity testing, universal testing machines, SEM–EDS, XRF, and related material characterization techniques.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
- PhD Student
- Master Student
- Bachelor 3rd to 4th year student
Skill sets or Qualities
We’re seeking applicants who preferably have the following experience:
- Experience in data collection, processing, and basic quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Academic writing experience, including the preparation of journal manuscripts and technical reports.
- Experience operating and interpreting results from a range of experimental tools and methods, including thermal conductivity testing, universal testing machines, SEM–EDS, XRF, and related material characterization techniques.