Bi-min Zhang NewbyView profile
Professor
Bi-min Zhang Newby is a Professor and Department Chair in the Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering department at the University of Akron's College of Engineering and Polymer Science . She joined the department in 2000 and has held visiting professorships at Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) and Université du Maine (France). Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University (1999) M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University (1995) B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Drexel University (1993) Her research focuses on surface modification , antifouling materials , stimuli-responsive biomaterials , and biocorrosion . She has pioneered techniques for creating thermoresponsive cell culture supports and antifouling coatings using materials like poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and zosteric acid. Recent publications highlight her work on polymer thin films for biomedical applications, corrosion mechanisms in metal alloys, and cellulose-based composites for environmental remediation. Her group explores Marangoni flow-induced patterning , biofilm inhibition , and gradient surface engineering to advance biomaterials and corrosion-resistant technologies. She teaches courses including Mass Transfer Operations , Transport Phenomena , and Surface Science in Chemical Engineering . Her research has been supported by agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) , National Institutes of Health (NIH) , and Department of Defense (DOD) .






