Zhaoyang Ma is a PhD student from Monash University under the supervision of Prof. Ranjith Pathegama Gamage. His research topic is Probing the mechanics of granite using nanomechanical apparatus and its application to geothermal energy exploration. Zhaoyang’s work focuses on geomechanics, unconventional reservoir engineering and deep geothermal energy extraction. His main research interests have so far concerned applying geomechanics principles to rock engineering, with a particular focus on subsurface energy systems and underground rock engineering applications. During his PhD study, he used a holistic approach encompassing physical experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical analyses to uncover micro-crack initiation and propagation mechanism in granite. He measured the micro-mechanical and temperature-dependent thermal expansion coefficients of granite’s major rock-forming minerals for the first time using nanoindentation and in-situ X-ray diffraction, and the results have been validated using molecular dynamics simulations and finite element simulations. Grain-scale stresses and strains of the polycrystalline granite subjected to macroscale load were first studied using the asymptotic expansion homogenization method based on the information gained from electron backscatter diffraction tests. The novel application of state-of-the-art techniques and new findings have been published in 15 papers in top engineering journals.