Ling Zang

Biography

 Dr. Zang is a USTAR professor at University of Utah affiliated with the Department of Materials science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Nano Institute of Utah. He was previously an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, NSF CAREER Award winner, and K. C. Wong Foundation Research Fellow. Dr. Zang earned his B.S. in physical chemistry from Tsinghua University and Ph.D. in chemistry from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His current research focuses on nanoscale imaging and molecular probing, organic semiconductors and nanostructures, optoelectronic sensors and nanodevices, with the long-term goal to achieve practical applications in the areas of security, renewable energy, and clean environment. Dr. Zang has been awarded various federal grants (from NSF, DHS, NASA, DOD, etc.) to support his broad range of research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Beyond the regular faculty duty on campus, Dr. Zang also remains active in organizing and chairing the nanotechnology sessions of various national and international conferences, and reaching out to K-12 students and publics for education of nanotechnology and the impacts to society and industry.  Dr. Zang also strives to foster the technology transfer and commercialization along the strategy of USTAR. In past years, more than twenty IPs have been developed from Dr. Zang’s lab and filed through the University of Utah Technology & Venture Commercialization office. One University spinoff company, Vaporsens Inc., was founded in 2011 to transfer the patented nanofiber sensor technology into market products for quick trace vapor detection of explosives, narcotics and chemical threats. 

Research Interest

 Current research interests include molecular self-assembly, organic semiconductors and nanostructures, nanoscale imaging, molecular probe, fluorescence sensing, optoelectronic sensors and nanodevices, as well as the relevant applications in solar energy conversion, and trace chemical and explosives detection.