Associate professor Yang Zhang (YZ) has served in many roles since joining the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois in 2012. Now, he can add another to the list.
YZ was recently named the department’s new Associate Head for Graduate Programs. The position had been vacant since former associate head, Prof. Jean Paul Allain, left in 2019 to direct the Nuclear Engineering department at Penn State University.
“[YZ] has shown the ideas, initiative, drive and skills for leadership positions, including his position at Beckman Institute,” NPRE department head Rizwan Uddin said. “NPRE is fortunate to have him as Associate Head for Graduate Programs and DGS.”
YZ started at the U of I as an assistant professor in 2012 and was promoted to associate professor in 2018. He recently received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Research from the Grainger College of Engineering and has been named a Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Scholar.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity to serve NPRE, with the help and support from each one of you,” YZ said. “Together, starting from small steps, we can make our grad program even more compelling. This is my home. This is our home.”