Los Angeles, CA
— Impressed by
his excellent track record in research, grant support and student
mentoring, the CSU
Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB)
will honor
Feimeng Zhou, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at
Cal State L.A. (CSULA), with the coveted 2012 Faculty Research Award.
The
Faculty Research Award honors a California State University (CSU)
faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding scientific achievement
in the CSU’s biotechnology research effort. Zhou will be recognized and
announced as the award recipient during the Awards Session of the 24th
Annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium, which takes place Jan. 5-7 in Santa
Clara.
“It is a
great feeling when my work is recognized and appreciated by colleagues
across the entire CSU system. This is a particularly good year because I
was also selected to be one of the Outstanding Professors by colleagues
at Cal State L.A.,” said Zhou, a Temple City resident. “These awards are
viewed by me more as an encouragement of my colleagues than as an
endorsement. Even in this economically difficult time, with more
challenging work ahead, I want to continue to strive for excellence in
both teaching and research.”
Faculty
Research Award recipients, who receive a $1,000 honorarium with the
honor, must be nominated by a colleague. Zhou was nominated by CSULA
Associate Professor of Microbiology Howard Xu.
“Dr. Zhou
is a brilliant and creative scientist with a
national reputation as an
expert in the development and application of analytical instruments for
environmental and biomedical research,” said Xu.
“His collaborations
with scientists on campus and externally [including those
overseas] reflect the multidisciplinary approach he embraces and have
provided excellent training opportunities, and have resulted in high
impact advances in diverse research areas.”
An esteemed chemist, Zhou has been instrumental in enhancing and
building the infrastructure for biomedical research at CSULA, and has
served as the director of the Research Infrastructure in Minority
Institution Program for the past six years.
Zhou’s teaching interests include analytical chemistry, instrumental
analysis, and electrochemistry. His research areas include surface
analysis and bio-analytical chemistry, such as the oxidative stress
involved in neurological disorders; the development of novel analytical
techniques for detection of biomarkers of cancers and neurodegenerative
diseases; and nanomaterial synthesis and surface patterning and
exploration of these materials and devices for developments of
alternative energy sources.
Next to his research, Zhou finds working with his students the “most
satisfying.”
“Most
of the students who have worked in my research group are underprivileged
and have faced various socioeconomic challenges. Through conducting
research and overcoming many obstacles in their work and lives, they
have gained confidence and learned to work hard and creatively,” said
Zhou. “It is a rewarding experience to have had the privileged
opportunity to offer some guidance and assistance along an important
segment of their long journey.”
Since 1995, Zhou has garnered 22 research and teaching-related grants,
totaling more than $10 million. He has supervised many postdoctoral
research associates, graduate students and undergraduate students. More
than 20 of his former students have earned, or are pursuing, Ph.D.
degrees in science, with more than half being from underrepresented
communities.
Besides his success as a professor, Zhou is also recognized as a top
faculty mentor in such programs as the Minority Opportunities in
Research (MORE) programs, the American Chemical Society-SEED Program as
well as the National Science Foundation (NSF) Louis Stokes Alliance for
Minority Participation program, the NSF-Research Experience for
Undergraduates, and the NSF-Scholars program.
Other accolades Zhou has garnered include the 2001 Teacher/Scholar Award
by Dreyfus Foundation, the 2002 National Outstanding Young Scientist
Award by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the
Technical Achievement Award by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1995.
Zhou has published more than 100 papers. He has been invited to give
presentations across the U.S. as well as in China, the United Kingdom,
and Germany.
“I
feel blessed to be in Cal State L.A.’s Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry where the faculty and staff are very supportive. The long
tradition of involving students in research projects and the productive
history of my predecessors and current colleagues have benefitted my
research program and made my work easier,” said Zhou. “I have been
fortunate to work with a large number of talented and motivated students
in my research group whose hard work and determination are what this
award should be dedicated to.”
Zhou earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Texas at
Austin in 1993.
# # #
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Cal
State L.A. Chemistry Professor
Feimeng Zhou
to receive prestigious CSUPERB 2012 Faculty Research Award
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