Rate My Professor Chenming Zhang

Chenming (Mike) Zhang is Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech, where he also serves as an affiliated faculty member in the VT-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences. He joined Virginia Tech in 2001 as Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2007, and to Professor in 2013. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a Scientist in Purification Development at Covance Biotechnology Services, Inc. from 1999 to 2001.

Zhang earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1999, an M.S. in Physical and Analytical Chemistry from Iowa State University in 1996, and a B.S. in Metallurgical Physical Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology Beijing in 1988. His research focuses on protein expression and purification, nanovaccines against psychoactive compounds such as nicotine and opioids, and vaccine development against infectious diseases including porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. He has received several awards, including the 2022 Excellence in Applied Research Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, Turner Faculty Fellowships in 2016 and 2021, the 2015 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research from the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, the 2006 National Academy of Engineering Young Investigator Award/Vaccine Production Starter Grant, and the 2004 Outstanding New Assistant Professor Award from the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. Zhang teaches courses including unit operations in biological systems engineering, bioprocess engineering lab, protein separation engineering, advanced protein separation engineering, and advances in recombinant protein production.