Mingjun Zhang

E-mail: mjzhang@utk.edu

• In 2012, we developed a method to produce nanoparticles from the Arthrobotrys oligospora, a representative flesh eater in the fungal kingdom. The nanoparticles showed promising potential as a drug delivery vehicle for cancer immunochemotherapy. The findings were published in Advanced Functional Materials. News about this research can be found here.
  
• In 2012, we discovered that the curved swimming trajectories were more energy efficient than linear trajectories for whirligig beetles, which explains why they are more often observed in nature. The work was published in PLoS Computational Biology. News about this research can be found here.
  
• In 2011, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) published our research about the unique swimming mechanism of Giardia trophozoite. News about this research can be found here.
  
• In 2011, National Science Foundation Dicovery website featured our research on naturally occurring and bioinspired nano-adhesive for biomedical applications: The Nanotechnology of sundew and English Ivy. The sunddew adhesive demonstrated promising potential for tissue engineering. BBC News also featured a column about the findings in 2012 entitled Insect-eating sundew plant heals wounds.
  
• In 2010, our research on using naturally occurring nanoparticles for sunscreen was published by Journal of Nanobiotechnology. The research received national media attention.
  
• In 2008, ivy in the above picture inspired our discovery that ivy secretes nanoparticles for surface climbing. The work was published by Nano Letters. The discovery was featured by multiple media and press.
  

• D.Sc., 2000, Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
  
• Ph.D., 1996, Zhejiang University, P. R. China.
  
• MS in BioEngineering, 2007, Stanford University, CA, USA.
  
• MS in Electrical Engineering, 2007, Stanford University, CA, USA.
  
• MS in Mechanical Engineering, 1994, Zhejiang University, P. R. China.
  
• B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering, 1990, Zhejiang University, P. R. China.
  

• Research Fellow Award. College of Engineering. The University of Tennessee, 2013.
• Young Investigator Award. Office of Naval Research. Department of Defense, 2011.
• Research Fellow Award. College of Engineering. The University of Tennessee, 2011.
• Innovation Merit Award. Life Sciences & Chemical Analysis Division, Agilent Technologies, 2005.
• Boeing Distinguished Speaker. The University of Missouri--Rolla, 2004.
  
• Early Career Award (Government/Industry). IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, 2003.
  
• Zhu Kezhen Scholarship. Zhejiang University, 1996.
  

• Member of the Conference Editorial Board (09/2009-present), IEEE Robotics and Automation Scociety.
  
• Lead Guest Editor (published 2008), a Special Issue on Drug Delivery Automation, IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering.
  
• Member of the Editorial Board (10/2004-01/2009), Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine.
  
• Lead Guest Editor (published 04/2006), a Special Issue on Automation for the Life Sciences, IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering .
• Associate Editor (03/2004-02/2009), IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering.

• Member. BMES, 2008.
• Member. AAAS, 2008.
• Senior Member. IEEE, 2006.

• 2008 - Present. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
• 2001 - 2007. Research and Development (full time). Bio-chip fabrication, lab-on-a-chip molecular diagnosis and bio-instrumentation. Life Science and Chemical Analysis Division, Agilent Technologies, California, USA.