Monitoring and diagnosis of manufacturing processes. He is an Associate Editor of Journal of Manufacturing Processes of Society of Manufacturing Engineers and on the Editorial Board of Robotics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing, an International Journal, and Int. J. High Temperature Materials Processes. He also coordinates efforts with Columbia Video Network to bring MS and Graduate Certificate programs in Manufacturing to industry. Dr. Yao is active in ME teaching laboratory enhancement by helping attract external funds to acquire major equipment including recent acquisitions of a CNC machining center and a coordinate measuring machine .
Opportunities exist for graduate research assistantships.