Chuanbing Tang

Dr. Chuanbing Tang is a Carolina Distinguished Professor at the University of South Carolina, holding the SmartState Endowed Chair in Polymer Nanocomposites and serving as Director of the NSF Center for Polymers for a Circular Economy (CCI Phase I). His research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields at the intersection of polymer chemistry, materials science, and biomedical engineering.

Dr. Tang's research focuses on three primary areas: sustainable biomass chemistry and biomaterials, organometallics and metallopolymers, and polymers for dielectric energy storage. His work in sustainable chemistry has addressed the transformation of hydrocarbon-rich biomass into sustainable chemicals, bioplastics, elastomers, and biomaterials. He has pioneered the use of resin acids, plant oils, fatty acids, and terpenes as renewable feedstocks for polymer synthesis. In the antimicrobial field, his research has discovered natural resin acid-derived cationic compounds and polymers that effectively kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria while maintaining low cytotoxicity to mammalian cells.

His research group has produced over 200 publications that have significantly advanced the fields of sustainable polymers, metallopolymers, and antimicrobial materials. His work has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), Fellow of the American Chemical Society, and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Dr. Tang serves as Senior Editor for Progress in Polymer Science and has held various editorial positions for leading polymer journals. He is actively involved in mentoring students and has received the Distinguished Undergraduate Research Mentor Award from the University of South Carolina.

• Fellow, American Chemical Society (2024)
• Principal Investigator, NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation Phase I Award (2023)
• Special Creativity Award, National Science Foundation (2022)
• Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) (2021)
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2020)
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2017)

Dr. Tang's research group maintains state-of-the-art laboratory facilities across two locations (Horizon I and GSRC buildings) with comprehensive equipment for organic polymer synthesis and materials characterization. His work bridges fundamental polymer chemistry with practical applications in sustainability, healthcare, and energy storage, making significant contributions to the development of next-generation renewable polymers and advanced functional materials.