Professor Ling Zang, Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, has been appointed Associate Dean for Research in the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, effective July 1, 2026.
The Associate Dean for Research plays a central role in advancing the college’s research enterprise, supporting faculty success, strengthening major proposal development, building external partnerships, improving research administration, and helping position the college for greater national impact. The ADR oversees the college’s Research Office and works closely with the Office of the Vice President for Research to help faculty succeed in research. The ADR also plays an important role in managing the college’s research space and provides important support for the college’s retention, promotion, and tenure process by helping evaluate the research records and trajectories of faculty across the college.
This role is especially important now as the College works to expand its research portfolio, pursue larger and more strategic funding opportunities, increase industry engagement, improve our research support systems, and elevate the visibility and impact of engineering research at the University of Utah.
Zang brings an exceptional combination of scholarly achievement, entrepreneurial experience, industry engagement, and university service to this position. Since joining the University of Utah in 2008, he has built a highly productive and impactful research program in nanoscience, nanotechnology, chemical sensing, molecular self-assembly, and functional materials. His work has led to more than 180 peer-reviewed publications, major review articles in leading journals, and more than 16,000 citations. He has been recognized as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Zang has also demonstrated the kind of translational and industry-facing research leadership that will be increasingly important for the College. He has secured substantial external research funding from federal agencies, industry, and private organizations. He has also helped found or co-found three university startups that have advanced technologies originating from his laboratory and secured significant grants, contracts, and industry support. His laboratory has generated 48 intellectual property disclosures, with 32 licensed to industry. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Gentex Corporation, giving him valuable experience in industry strategy, governance, technology commercialization, and organizational leadership.
In addition to his research and innovation record, Zang has been a strong contributor to the college and university. He has served as chair of the College RPT Advisory Committee, as chair of the Materials Science and Engineering departmental RPT committee, and in university-level service related to conflict of interest, research compliance, safety, and cross-campus research initiatives. He has also contributed to major collaborative efforts in areas such as critical minerals, water sustainability, PFAS detection and remediation, and industry-linked technology development.
As Associate Dean for Research, Zang will work with faculty, departments, centers, and college leadership to strengthen our research development infrastructure, support major multi-investigator proposals, mentor faculty in building ambitious and sustainable research programs, expand industry and government partnerships, manage research space strategically, and improve the systems that support research excellence across the college. His experience moving ideas from fundamental discovery to funded research, intellectual property, startup activity, and industry partnership will be a significant asset as we work to increase the scale, impact, and visibility of our research enterprise.
The Price College of Engineering extends its thanks to Kevin Whitty for his outstanding service as Associate Dean for Research over the past seven years. Whitty has provided steady, thoughtful, and highly effective leadership through a period of substantial change in the college, the university, and the national research landscape. He has supported faculty across departments, helped advance major research initiatives, strengthened college research operations, and represented the college with integrity and judgment in many university-level research discussions. Whitty will continue to be involved in several special projects for the college, including helping us establish the college’s pre-award office.