معرفی
Dr. Hongbo Zeng is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engineering. He holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Intermolecular Forces and Interfacial Science and is a Fellow of multiple prestigious academies including the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Canada. His work bridges fundamental surface science with practical applications in energy, environmental, and biomedical fields.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Santa Barbara (Supervisors: Prof. Jacob N. Israelachvili, Prof. Matthew V. Tirrell)
- M.S. in Materials Science from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- B.S. in Polymeric Materials Science and Chemical Engineering from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Dr. Zeng's research focuses on colloid and interface science, functional materials & nanotechnology, with special emphasis on intermolecular and surface interactions in soft materials including polymers, biopolymers, surfactants, emulsions, and hydrogels. His work extends to petroleum, oil sands and mineral processing, and development of functional materials like self-healing materials. His lab has pioneered nanomechanical tools to probe intermolecular and interfacial forces at solid/water/oil/gas interfaces and between highly deformable objects such as gas bubbles and liquid emulsion drops.
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on interfacial phenomena, with particular attention to hydrophobic interactions, wet adhesion mechanisms, and advanced materials for environmental applications. His work bridges fundamental surface science with practical applications in oil sands processing, water treatment, and biomedical engineering, showing consistent innovation in both methodology development and practical implementation.
Scientific Awards:
- Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Intermolecular Forces and Interfacial Science
- Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE)
- NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship
- Martha Cook Piper Research Prize
- Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award
- van der Waals Prize
- Engineering Research Award of the University of Alberta
Dr. Zeng has published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in leading academic journals, along with one book and eleven book chapters. His research has been supported by numerous grants from NSERC, Canada Research Chairs program, and other funding agencies. He has advised numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. His Surface Science and Molecular Forces Lab at the University of Alberta is a leading center for interfacial science research in Canada.
Dr. Zeng leads the Surface Science and Molecular Forces Lab at the University of Alberta, where his team develops and applies advanced nanomechanical tools to investigate intermolecular forces and interfacial phenomena. The lab's work spans fundamental research on molecular interactions to applied projects addressing challenges in oil sands processing, water treatment, and biomedical materials development.
