Ji-Cheng Zhao to Serve as Next MSE Chair

Ji-Cheng "JC" Zhao joins the University of Maryland (UMD) Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) as its new Chair, effective July 1, 2019. Dr. Zhao comes to UMD from The Ohio State University (OSU) where he has served as professor and associate chair of research in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering since 2008. Prior to his tenure at OSU, Zhao was a materials scientist and project leader at GE Global Research in Schenectady, New York. From 2014 - 2017, he took a leave from OSU to serve as a program director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), returning to OSU in fall, 2017.

Currently a Fellow of the American Society of Materials International (ASM) and of the Materials Research Society (MRS), Zhao's research focuses are on high-throughput materials science methodologies, determination of phase diagrams and other materials properties, computational thermodynamics, and design of advanced alloys and coatings.

In addition to many materials innovations, Zhao pioneered the development of a diffusion-multiple approach and co-developed several associated materials property microscopy tools for accelerated materials discovery and development. The invention of ultrafast laser materials property microscopy by the Zhao-Cahill team was recognized as one of eight finalists for the 2018 Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis - the highest remunerated prizes dedicated to laser technology innovations.

Zhao holds 48 issued U.S. patents and was the 2001 winner of the prestigious Hull Award from GE Global Research with a citation “for his leadership skills in advancing innovative, state-of-the-art development methodologies that aim to decrease cycle time for materials discovery while increasing robustness of the work. He was also recognized for his expertise and leadership regarding the critical nature of coatings and high temperature materials, and for his enormous energy and perseverance in solving real business challenges.”

Zhao was recently elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of ASM International for the 2019-2022 term.

Published June 30, 2019