Yi's research focuses on the deformation mechanism and mechanical behavior of engineering materials for aerospace, automotive, marine and biomedical applications. Her research aims to understand the correlation between the microstructures and mechanical properties of materials to develop high performance materials for engineering applications and to optimize process parameters for high-value manufacturing. She has undertaken many research projects, which were sponsored by the US Army Research Office, US Department of Energy, EPSRC, Royal Society, British Academy and ERC. Research outcomes are visible from research papers published in high impact international journals with a total of 6300 citations and hi-index 45 (Google Scholar). Yi is a Fellow of Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IMMM) and a member of UKRI Talent Peer Review College and EPSRC Peer Review College. She was invited to review research proposal and grant applications for the German Research Foundation, the Czech Science Foundation, EPSRC and the Royal Society

Dr. B. Y. R. Surnam is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Mauritius, where he has served since 2007 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018. He recently completed his tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering (2022–2025) and has also held several key leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mauritius and completed postdoctoral research as a Fulbright Program Scholar at Texas A&M University, USA. His research focuses on corrosion and materials for sustainability and energy, with extensive contributions to atmospheric and marine corrosion, composite materials, renewable energy, and sustainable engineering. Dr. Surnam has led and participated in numerous nationally and internationally funded research projects and has published extensively in high-impact journals and conference proceedings. He is a registered Mechanical Engineer with the Council of Registered Professional Engineers of Mauritius and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Mauritius. His outstanding academic leadership, research excellence, and commitment to engineering education have made him a highly respected figure in the fields of materials science and mechanical engineering.