Yuan completed a PhD titled Plasma modification of natural fibres in polypropylene composites at the University of Auckland in 2002.
[3] Yuan leads the Future Fibres Laboratory at AUT, and is a professor in the mechanical engineering department.
[5] In 2018 Yuan received a Smart Ideas grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment worth just under $1 million, to research the use of harakeke (New Zealand flax) fibres to improve supercapacitor performance.
[6] Supercapacitors are more sustainable alternatives to batteries, but are limited by electrode problems.
[6] Yuan and her research team are also investigating the use of other plant and animal fibres such as industrial hemp and wool, in other high-performance uses, such as smart textiles and medical uses.