Qin Zhu

Dr. Qin Zhu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. His work bridges engineering, ethics, and cultural studies, with a particular focus on Confucian philosophy as a resource for reimagining engineering ethics and education. He is actively involved in research, teaching, and professional service.

• Ph.D., Engineering Education, Purdue University (2017)
• Ph.D., Philosophy of Science and Technology (Engineering Ethics), Dalian University of Technology (2011)
• B.S., Materials Processing and Control Engineering, Dalian University of Technology (2005)

Dr. Zhu’s research centers on culturally responsive approaches to engineering education, with strong interests in engineering ethics, global engineering practices, and the ethical dimensions of AI and robotics. He critically examines how cultural values shape technological development and professional identity, advocating for the inclusion of non-Western philosophical traditions—especially Confucianism—in ethical frameworks. His work often explores role-based morality, moral imagination, and the integration of virtue ethics into engineering pedagogy.

His recent publications reflect a consistent trend in exploring Confucian ethics in the context of modern technology, with recurring themes in moral competence of robots, ethical leadership, and cross-cultural ethical reasoning. His interdisciplinary scholarship spans engineering, philosophy, and social sciences, contributing to journals in ethics, technology, and education.

Dr. Zhu has received numerous honors, including the Best Diversity Paper Award from ASEE and recognition as a Fellow by multiple national institutes. His awards highlight his contributions to ethics education, diversity, and interdisciplinary scholarship.

• Best Section Paper Award, ASEE Rocky Mountain Section (2022)
• Resident Fellow, University of Pittsburgh Summer Institute (2019)
• Editor's Choice Paper, Journal of Engineering Studies (2018)
• Best Diversity Paper Award, ASEE Engineering Ethics Division (2017)
• Fellow, Arizona State University Winter School on Responsible Innovation (2017)
• Summer Scholar, NEH Summer Institute (2016)
• Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award, Purdue University (2016)

Dr. Zhu advises students and leads the Lancset Research Lab, where he mentors emerging scholars in engineering education and ethics. He has secured research grants and is actively involved in professional organizations such as the Society for Ethics Across the Curriculum. He serves on editorial boards for the Journal of Engineering Studies and the Online Ethics Center, contributing to the global discourse on engineering ethics.

His research lab and professional affiliations reflect a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical innovation, and inclusive pedagogy in engineering education.