Dr. Wujie Zhang, associate professor in the Physics and Chemistry Department, was named Young Engineer of the Year by STEM Forward for his significant contributions to the engineering field in his role as an educator, researcher, mentor and role model. He will be recognized at the 69th Annual Celebration of STEM event, which will be held Wednesday, Feb. 16. Register to attend this virtual event.

Zhang joined MSOE in 2012 and has been bringing industry and real-world experiences into his classroom and laboratory ever since. Zhang has led several senior projects based on biomaterial known as pectin that have focused on drug delivery for cancer treatment, 3D printing for tissue engineering, and engineering artificial red blood cells. In fact, the synthetic red blood cells he and his undergraduate students developed are now patented, paving the way for tremendous advancement in creating a safe and abundant blood supply. Zhang continues working with students to advance this research. He also has led the successful development of a hydrogel-based oxygen therapeutic that mimics human blood in medical transfusions. These efforts have brought in several grants to MSOE to fund research projects and support undergraduate research assistants.

Zhang continuously supports students to solve real-world problems and works with them to advance their hypotheses. Their research is on the cutting edge, often being published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Not only does he serve as students’ advisor, but he also is a mentor and is teaching them business skills right alongside scientific skills.

In addition to working with MSOE students, Zhang is dedicated to helping the community through a number of non-profit organizations. He serves on the Board of Health, City of Milwaukee; co-chair of the Lead-Safe Advisory Committee, City of Milwaukee; Smithsonian Curiosity Council; Chair, American Chemical Society Milwaukee section, and many others. He also dedicates his time as a member of several MSOE councils and committees.

His impact on the community has not gone unrecognized. He holds a multitude of awards and accolades, including being named one of Wisconsin’s 34 Most Influential Asian American Leaders in 2021 by Madison365 and was on Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list in 2019. MSOE also awarded Zhang with the Diversity and Inclusion Advocate Award in 2020, and both the Karl O. Werwath Engineering Research Award and Falk Engineering Educator Award in 2016.

Zhang’s outstanding influence in STEM stretches far beyond MSOE and continues to make a powerful impact in the field of biomolecular engineering.