Dr Yang is a Qiushi Distinguished Professor in Geomechanics in the Department of Civil Engineering at Zhejiang University. His current research interests include constitutive behaviour and modelling of soils, computational geomechanics, piled foundations and applications in practical geotechnical engineering. His recent research includes being Principal Investigator on the key projects (including the international cooperation) funded by NSFC, investigating offshore renewable energy foundations for sand sites, and National key research and development project funded by MOST, focusing on the construction of infrastructures on offshore islands situated atop deep soft soil ground. He has written over 150 academic papers, winning over domestic and international awards including the Natural Sciences Award (First Class) from China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2016 and the Canadian Geotechnical Society's Quigley Award in 2019. He serves as an Associate Editor for J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. and Canadian Geotechnical Journal. He is a nominated member of TC105 Geo-mechanics (ISSMGE).