Birmingham scientist elected to Royal Academy of Engineering

Distinguished for original research on micromanipulation of particles and encapsulation, Professor Zhang’s studies have been applied in industry to develop a series of high-value functional products, each with sales exceeding $100m.

Professor Zhang specialises in functional product development for chemical industries, as well as food, health and nutrition. He has made a leading contribution to transforming academic chemical engineering in the field of product development.

Reacting to the news, Professor Zhang said: “I am delighted to have been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng). This title recognises the long-term achievements not only of myself, but also my research group, the School of Chemical Engineering, the China Institute and University of Birmingham Enterprise.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all my mentors, group members, collaborators, research sponsors and particularly those people who have supported me in this election.

“As a new FREng, I have a great deal to learn from the most talented and creative Fellows in the Academy. Collectively we can make this planet a better place to live for everybody.”

Professor Zhang teaches on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as supervising a number of postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

In addition to his research and teaching roles within the University, he is also Deputy Director of the University of Birmingham’s China Institute.

Professor Zhang is a member of the Editorial Boards of Journal of Microencapsulation and Artificial Cells, Blood Substitutes and Biotechnology, Senior Editor of Cogent Engineering (Chemical Engineering), EPSRC Peer Review College and Engineering Panel, an Overseas Assessor of Chinese Academy of Sciences, an Accreditation Assessor and member of Education and Accreditation Forum of IChemE, and Director of Microforce Measurement Ltd, UK..

He has authored and co-authored over 170 fully refereed papers and more than 240 other publications including conference papers, book chapters, conference presentations and patents.