Materials science and engineering alum Donghui Zhao PhD’11 has joined the University of Toledo as an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, with joint teaching and scholarly responsibilities in the College of Engineering. He will also take on a leadership role in the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub.
In this role, he will serve as a bridge between academia and the glass industry, supporting the research needs of industrial partners while helping develop new academic programs, including a materials science undergraduate degree.
Zhao brings more than two decades of experience in both industry and academia. He previously held leadership positions at Corning, Alkegen, and Saint-Gobain, and holds more than 20 U.S. patents.
At Lehigh, he was advised by Himanshu Jain, T.L. Diamond Distinguished Chair in Engineering and Applied Science, and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. Zhao received the Stout Dissertation Award for his work on photo-induced changes in chalcogenide glasses, which was recognized as the Rossin College’s best doctoral dissertation in 2011.
His appointment is part of a $31.3 million Ohio Department of Development initiative to bolster regional glass science, solar technology, and manufacturing.
