Education

• Ph.D. in Acoustics, Pennsylvania State University
• B.S.E. in Civil Engineering with Certificate in Architecture, Princeton University

Certifications

• PhD, PE, INCE Board Certified, FASA

About Lily M. Wang

Dr. Lily Wang is the Charles W. and Margre H. Durham Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Technology, and Director of the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction in the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Her primary research interests are in room acoustics and noise control.  Her research group's work on human perception and performance in noise, classroom acoustics, uncertainty in acoustic measurements, and room acoustics computer modeling has been funded by AHRI, ASHRAE, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Veneklasen Research Foundation.  

Dr. Wang is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA); Board-Certified by the Institute of Noise Control Engineering; a Professional Engineer licensed in Acoustics through the state of Oregon; and a recipient of the ASA Hunt Postdoctoral Fellowship, ASA R. Bruce Lindsay Award, NSF CAREER Award, and ASHRAE Ralph G. Nevins Physiology and Human Environment Award.  She has also received a number of teaching and mentoring awards, including the ASA Student Council Mentoring Award. She has served as ASA President (2018-19),  Vice-President (2015-16) and Chair of the its Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics (2004-07). 

Areas of Research and Professional Interest

• Effects of Noise and Reverberation on Human Perception and Performance
  • Acoustics in Occupied K-12 Classrooms
  • Restaurant Acoustics: Measurements and Predictions
  • Speech Comprehension and Listening Effort
  • Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ): Acoustic Interactions with Indoor Air Quality, Thermal, and Lighting Conditions
• Linking Room Acoustic Subjective Perception and Objective Metrics
  • Tones and Fluctuations in Noise from Building Mechanical Systems
  • Computer Modeling and Auralization for Room Acoustics Prediction
  • Scattering and Diffusion
• Uncertainty in Room Acoustic Measurements
• Directional Characteristics of Musical Instruments

Research Profiles:

• Digital Commons
• Google Scholar
• ResearchGate

Courses Taught

• AREN 800 - Architectural Engineering Graduate Seminar
• AREN 830 - Advanced Noise Control
• AREN 833 - Advanced Architectural Acoustics
• AREN 835 - Electroacoustics
• AREN 930 - Current Topics in Architectural Acoustics

In the News: Powered by the 

Aug 02, 2024: Durham School's Wang, Underwood co-author paper featured in Acoustics Today

Jun 05, 2024: Durham School's Wang explains the toll of restaurant noise in Washington Post

May 19, 2023: SWE Magazine names Durham director among "Women Engineers You Should Know"

Jan 30, 2023: Improvisation class teaches engineers valuable communication skills

Aug 27, 2021: Wang shifts gears as new director of The Durham School

May 10, 2021: Wang on American Institute of Physics panel on reimagining meetings

Oct 23, 2020: Wang chosen as plenary speaker for 2020 NOISE-CON

Oct 25, 2018: Changes in college leadership team bring new roles for Linzell, Khattak and Wang

Oct 05, 2018: ASA awards prestigious Beranek Scholarship to Kieren Smith

Jul 21, 2017: Lily Wang named president-elect of Acoustical Society of America

Honors and Awards

National:

• SWE Magazine 'Women Engineers You Should Know' (2023)
• ASHA Editor’s Award (2020) – given to the most impactful works published in ASHA Journals that meet the highest quality standards in research design and presentation: Peng, Z. and L. M. Wang. (2019) “Listening Effort by Native and Non-native Listeners due to Noise, Reverberation and Talker Foreign Accent during English Speech Perception” J. Speech, Language, and Hearing Research 62, 1068-1081.
• Acoustical Society of America Student Council Mentoring Award (2015)
• ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer (2012-16)
• ASHRAE Ralph G. Nevins Physiology and Human Environment Award (2012)
• ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award (2012)
• Girls Preparatory School (GPS) Margaret Rawlings Lupton Award of Excellence (2009)
• Elected to Fellowship in the Acoustical Society of America (2007)
• Acoustical Society of America R. Bruce Lindsay Award (2005)
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2002-07)
• Acoustical Society of America F.V. Hunt Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (1999)

University:

• Charles W. and Margre H. Durham Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Technology, UNL College of Engineering (2021-present)
• UNL Architectural Engineering Student Leadership and Advisory Committee (AESLAC) Award for Extracurricular Support (2014)
• UNL AESLAC Mentoring Award (2015, 2013, 2009, 2006)
• UNL AESLAC Teaching Award (2012)
• UNL University Distinguished Teaching Award, joint with College of Engineering Holling Family Master Teacher Award (2012)
• UNL College of Engineering Holling Family Senior Distinguished Teaching Award (2011)
• UNL College of Engineering Holling Family Distinguished Teaching/Advising/Mentoring Award (2009)
• UNL College of Engineering Faculty Service Award (2009)
• UNL Architectural Engineering Directors Award (2009)
• Vranek Distinguished Scholar: UNL College of Engineering Endowed Professorship at the Associate Level (2008-11)
• UNL Excellence in Graduate Education Award (2006)
• UNL College of Engineering Faculty Fellow Award (2005-07)

Funding

• “COBRE: Center for Perception and Communication in Children (CPCC)”, NIH - Subcontracted under Boys Town National Research Hospital (May 2014 – April 2024)
• “Evidence-Based Interactions between Indoor Environmental Factors and Their Effects on K-12 Student Achievement”, EPA Healthy Schools STAR Program (November 2014 - October 2019)
• “Study for Determining Bias and Reproducibility of Sound Power Test Methods within the HVACR Industry”, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) (July 2013 – June 2019)

Selected Publications

Refereed Journal Papers:

• Flagner, S., S. Schiavon, N. Kok, F. Fuerst, D. Licina, A. Loder, S. A. Rahman, F.A.J.L. Scheer, L. Wang, G. Weeldreyer, andd H. Pallubinsky. (2025) "Ten questions concerning the economics of indoor environmental quality in buildings" Building and Environment.
• Kumar, S., S. H. Underwood, J. L. Masters, N. A. Manley, I. Konstantzos, J. Lau, R. Haller, and L. M. Wang. (2023) "Ten questions concerning smart and healthy built environments for older adults" Building and Environment.
• Brill, L. C. and L. M. Wang. (2021) "Higher sound levels in K-12 classrooms correlate to lower math achievement scores” Front. Built Environ. 7:688395.
• Wang, L. M. and L. C. Brill. (2021) "Speech and noise levels measured in occupied K-12 classrooms" J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 150(2), 864-877.
• Altomonte, S., J. Allen, P. Bluyssen, G. Brager, L. Heschong, A. Loder, S. Schiavon, J. Veitch, L. Wang, and P. Wargocki. (2020) “Ten questions concerning well-being in the built environment” Building and Environment.
• Lee, J. and L. M. Wang. (2020) "Investigating multidimensional characteristics of noise signals with tones from building mechanical systems and their effects on annoyance" J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 147(1), 108-124.
• Peng, Z. and L. M. Wang. (2019) "Listening effort by native and non-native listeners due to noise, reverberation and talker foreign accent during English speech perception" J. Speech, Language, and Hearing Research 62, 1068-1081. 2020 ASHA Editor's Award in the JSLHR-Hearing Section.
• Lee, J. and L. M. Wang. (2018) "Development of a model to predict the likelihood of complaints due to assorted tone-in-noise combinations" J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 143(5), 2697-2707.
• Lee, J. and L. M. Wang. (2017) “How tonality and loudness of noise relate to annoyance and task performance” Noise Control Eng. J. 65(2), 71-82.
• Peng, Z. and L. M. Wang. (2016) "Effects of noise, reverberation and foreign accent on native and non-native listeners’ performance of English speech comprehension." J. Acs. Soc. Am. 139, 2772-2783.
• Ronsse, L. M. and L. M. Wang. (2013) "Relationships between unoccupied classroom acoustical conditions and elementary student achievement." J. Acs. Soc. Am. 133, 1480-1495.
• Ronsse, L. M. and L. M. Wang. (2012) "Effects of room size and reverberation, receiver location, and source rotation on acoustical metrics related to source localization." Acta Acustica united with Acustica 98, 768-775.
• Vigeant, M. C., L. M. Wang and J. H. Rindel. (2011) "Objective and subjective evaluations of the multi-channel auralization technique as applied to solo instruments." Appl. Acs. 72, 311-323.
• Rathsam, J. and L. M. Wang. (2010) "Planar reflector panels with convex edges." Acta Acustica united with Acustica 96, 905-913.
• Ryherd, E. E. and L. M. Wang. (2010) "AB-10-018: The effects of noise from building mechanical systems with tonal components on human performance and perception (1322-RP)." ASHRAE Transactions, 116, Part 2, 541-552.
• Wang, L. M. and C. C. Novak. (2010) "AB-10-019: Human performance and perception-based evaluations of indoor noise criteria for rating mechanical system noise with time-varying fluctuations (1322-RP)." ASHRAE Transactions, 116, Part 2, 553-568.
• Tiller, D., L. M. Wang, A. Musser, and M. Radik. (2010) "AB-10-017: Combined effects of noise and temperature on human comfort and performance (1128-RP)." ASHRAE Transactions, 116, Part 2, 522-540.
• Bradley, D. T. and L. M. Wang. (2010) "Optimum absorption and aperture parameters for realistic coupled volume spaces determined from computational analysis and subjective testing results." J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 127, 223-232.
• Bradley, D. T. and L. M. Wang. (2009) "Quantifying the double slope effect in coupled volume room systems." J. Bldg. Acs. 16(2), 105–123.
• Vigeant, M. C., L. M. Wang and J. H. Rindel. (2008) "Investigations of orchestra auralizations using the multi-channel multi-source auralization technique." Acta Acustica united with Acustica 94, 866-882.
• Ryherd, E. E. and L. M. Wang. (2008) "Implications of human performance and perception under tonal noise conditions on indoor noise criteria." J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 124, 218-226.
• Wang, L. M. and J. Rathsam. (2008) "The influence of absorption factors on the sensitivity of a virtual room's sound field to scattering coefficients." Appl. Acs. 69(12), 1249-1257.
• Wang, L. M. and M. C. Vigeant. (2008) "Evaluations of output from room acoustic computer modeling and auralization due to different sound source directionalities." Appl. Acs. 69(12), 1281-1293.
• Ryherd, E. E. and L. M. Wang. (2007) "Effects of exposure duration and type of task on subjective performance and perception in noise." Noise Control Engr. J. 55(3), 334-347.
• Bradley, D. T. and L. M. Wang. (2007) "Comparison of measured and computer-modeled objective parameters for an existing coupled volume concert hall." J. Bldg. Acs. 14(2), 79-90.
• Bowden, E. E. and L. M. Wang. (2007) "Verifying two commercial software implementations of impulse-response-based speech intelligibility measurements." Appl. Acs. 68(7), 717-728.
• Bradley, D. T. and L. M. Wang. (2005) "The effects of simple coupled volume geometry on the objective and subjective results from non-exponential decay." J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 118, 1480-1490.
• Bowden, E. E. and L. M. Wang. (2005) "OR-05-6-4: Relating human productivity and annoyance to indoor noise criteria systems: a low frequency analysis." ASHRAE Transactions, 111, Part 1, 684-692.
• Wang, L. M. and C. Burroughs. (2002) "Comparison of radiated power from structurally different violins." Catgut Acoust. Soc. J. 4 (6), 65-72.
• Wang, L. M. and C. Burroughs. (2001) "Acoustic radiation from bowed violins." J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 543-555.
• Wang, L. M. and C. Burroughs. (1999) "Directivity patterns of acoustic radiation from bowed violins." Catgut Acoust. Soc. J. 3 (7), 7-15.

Refereed Conference Proceedings:

• Bose, B., H. B. Brotherton, T. Hopper, P. M. Oquendo, L. M. Wang, M. E. B. Webb, and H. Wilkinson. (2023) “Panel: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Perspectives on Advancing Women and Gender Equity in Engineering – for the Next 130 Years.” Proceedings of the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference and Exhibition, Baltimore, MD.
• Kabirikopaei, A., M. Kuhlenengel, A. Arthur, J. Bovaird, J. Lau, C. Waters, and L. M. Wang. (2019) “The effects of indoor environmental factors on students' academic achievement.”Proceedings of the 2019 AEI Conference, Tysons, VA.
• Kuhlenengel, M., L. Brill, S. Deng, H. Lester, J. Bovaird, J. Lau, L. Wang and C. Waters. (2017) “An investigation of school environmental effects on student achievement.” Proceedings of the 2017 AEI Conference, Oklahoma.
• Lau, J., S. Deng, H. Lester, J. Bovaird, L. Wang and C. Waters. (2016) “Do the students in high performance incentive (HPI) schools demonstrate more academic improvement than their peers in non-HPI schools?” IAQ 2016.
• Francis, J. M., J. Lee, and L. M. Wang.  (2014) "SE-14-C043: Determining annoyance thresholds of tones in noise." ASHRAE Papers CD: 2014 ASHRAE Annual Conference. Atlanta: ASHRAE.
• Wiese, C. H. and L. M. Wang. (2011) "LV-11-C031: Measured levels of hospital noise before, during, and after renovation of a hospital wing, and a survey of resulting patient perception." ASHRAE Transactions, 117, Part 2, 256-263.
• Ronsse, L. M., L. M. Wang, and C. E. Waters (2010) "Industry Participation in the Interdisciplinary Team Design Project Course of a Master of Architectural Engineering Program." ASEE Midwest Section 2010 Conference, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Ronsse, L. M. and L. M. Wang. (2010) "AB-10-C037: Effects of noise from building mechanical systems on elementary school student achievement." ASHRAE Transactions, 116, Part 2, 347-354.
• Wang, L. M. and E. E. Bowden. (2003) "Performance review of indoor noise criteria." Proceedings of the 2003 Architectural Engineering Institute Conference, Austin, TX.

Recent Presentations

• Wang, L. M. (2024) “Towards better understanding and communication of uncertainty in architectural acoustics and noise control” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 156, A82.
• George, H. and L. M. Wang (2024) “Ambisonic recordings of sounds fields from commonly occupied built environments” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 155, A176.
• Kumar, S. and L. M. Wang (2024) “Comparison of reverberation times and average absorption coefficients in classrooms, calculated from in-situ room measurements versus from material databases as during design” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 155, A93.
• Mann, M. J., S. H. Underwood and L. M. Wang (2024) “Extracting and classifying psychoacoustic features from online restaurant reviews” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 155, A282.
• Underwood, S. H. and L. M. Wang (2024) “Mining user reviews, crowdsourced noise measurements, and metadata to inform design thresholds for acoustic conditions in restaurants” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 155, A281.
• Weeldreyer, G., L. M. Wang and Z. E. Peng (2024) “Perceptual consequences of reverberant environments on spatial unmasking” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 155, A210. 
• Caldas, F., F. T. De Cillo, S. H. Underwood, S. Kumar, E. V. Celeri, B. Masiero, and L. M. Wang (2023) “Measurements of classroom acoustic conditions in which young neurodiverse persons learn in Sao Paulo and Nebraska” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 153, A129.
• Underwood, S. H. and L. M. Wang (2023) “Quantifying repeatability, reproducibility, and bias in sound power level measurement methodologies via a round-robin study” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 153, A182. Young Presenter Award in Noise.
• Weeldreyer, G. S., Z. E. Peng, L. M. Wang and G. C. Stecker (2023) “Quantifying the impact of hearing aid microphone placement and head mounted devices on binaural cues from head-related transfer functions” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 153, A161.
• Wang, L. M. (2023) “Links Between Indoor Acoustic Conditions and Human Well-Being and Performance” Keynote Speaker at Healthy Buildings 2023, Aachen, Germany.
• Wang, L. M. (2023) “Seminar 36 Healthy K-12 Schools: Correlations from a Cumulative Model That Includes Acoustic, Lighting, Indoor Air Quality, and Thermal Comfort Conditions and Student Achievement” ASHRAE Winter Conference; Atlanta, GA; 4-8 February 2023.
• Hintz, D., L. M. Wang, and Z. E. Peng (2022). “Spatial release from masking in anechoic and reverberant environments” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 152, A211. Student Paper Award in Architectural Acoustics, 2nd Place.
• Wang, L. M. (2022) “Broadening participation in acoustics: Personal reflections and pathways forward” Keynote Speaker at 183rd Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Nashville, J. Acs. Soc. Am. 152, A53.
• Caldas, F., B. Maseiro, and L. M. Wang (2022). “How Classroom Acoustic Conditions May Impact Autistic Students: A Review” Inter-Noise 2022, Glasgow, UK, Glasgow, UK.
• Underwood, S. and L. M. Wang (2022). “An Inter-laboratory Study to Quantify the Repeatability, Reproducibility, and Bias of Sound Power Measurement Methods” Inter-Noise 2022, Glasgow, UK.
• Wang, L. M. (2022) “Linking Indoor Acoustic Conditions to Human Well-Being and Performance”. Keynote Speaker at Inter-Noise 2022, Glasgow, UK.
• Anderson, V. R., G. C. Stecker, and L. M. Wang (2021). “Acoustic effects of face masks on speech: Impulse response measurements between two binaural mannikins” J. Acs. Soc. Am. 150, A248.
• Wang, L. M. (2021) “Links Between Indoor Acoustic Conditions and Human Comfort and Performance” Invited Lecture for EE 838 Course, University of Campinas, Brazil; June 30, 2021.
• Wang, L. M. (2021) “Restaurant Acoustics Panel Discussion” Invited panelist, Spanish-Speaking Acousticians in the Americas Chapter of the Acoustical Society of America; May 14, 2021.
• Wang, L. M. (2020) "Relationships between Acoustic and Other Indoor Environmental Conditions on Student Achievement in Primary and Secondary Classrooms" Keynote Speaker at 1st Biennial International Conference on Acoustic and Vibration.
• Wang, L. M. (2020) "The Acoustic Experience in Restaurants" Plenary Speaker at Noise-Con 2020.
• Wang, L. M. and B. Beamer (2020) “Leveraging ABET Accreditation to Promote Inclusion of Noise Control Engineering Concepts in Engineering Programs” Noise-Con 2020 (Virtual), 16-19 November 2020, 199-204(6).
• Wang, L.M., L. C. Brill, J. Nord, and J. Bovaird (2020) “Higher speech levels in K-12 classrooms correlate to lower math achievement scores” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 148, 2631(A).
• Smith, K. H., L. M. Wang and V. R. Anderson (2019) “Design features and room characteristics contributing to noise levels in restaurants” International Symposium on Room Acoustics 2019, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Young Acousticians Award.
• Smith, K. H. and L. M. Wang (2019) “Exploring the effect of ventilation type on the acoustics of primary and secondary school classrooms” International Congress on Acoustics 2019, Aachen, Germany.
• Wang, L. M. and K. H. Smith (2019)"Acoustic conditions in occupied classrooms" 26th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV26), Montreal, Canada.
• Smith, K. H. and L. M. Wang (2019) "Relationships between acoustical, IAQ, thermal, and lighting parameters, logged over time" 2019 AEI Conference; Tysons, VA; 3-5 April 2019.
• Catton, A., L. M. Wang, A. K. Bosen, T. J. Vallier and D. H. Keefe (2018) "How physical versus panned sources in dry or reverberant conditions affect accuracy of localization in sound field synthesis system" J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 143, 1829(A).
• Bliefnick, J. and L. M. Wang. (2017) “Distinguishing between varying amounts of diffusion subjectively and objectively” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 142, 2500(A).
• Farber, G. and L. M. Wang. (2017) “Analyses of crowd-sourced sound levels, logged from more than 2250 restaurants and bars in New York City” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 142, 2593(A).
• Paine, J. A. and L. M. Wang. (2017) “Analyses of sound level variations in occupied K-12 classrooms” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 142, 2543(A).
• Brill, L. C. and L. M. Wang. (2017) “Compiled acoustic and indoor environmental condition data from 220 K-12 classrooms” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 141, 3480(A). Student Paper Award in Architectural Acoustics, 1st Place