Royal Society of Chemistry honors Hong with fellow selection

(Press-News.org) The Royal Society of Chemistry has named Yi Hong, a distinguished university professor of bioengineering at The University of Texas at Arlington, as a fellow.

Hong said he was honored by the selection.

“Chemistry is amazing because it helps to create many new biomedical materials for human health and life saving,” Hong said. “This recognition encourages me not only to invent more creative biomaterials through chemical design for disease treatment, but also to be a role model to our next generation of scientists and engineers in chemistry.”

Hong is the only current College of Engineering faculty member, and just the second overall, to be named a fellow of the organization. Two faculty members from UTA’s  College of Science—Daniel Armstrong, the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor in UTA’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Wei Chen, distinguished university professor in UTA’s Department of Physics—are also fellows.

Hong earned his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Zhejiang University, then worked as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a research assistant professor in the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh before joining UTA in 2012.

His research focuses on developing functional and bioactive biodegradable soft materials and translational research for tissue repair and regeneration, specifically for cardiovascular disease treatment and women and children’s health care. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in the field of biomaterials and holds 12 patents. He has received many awards, such as a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Junior Investigator Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society and an American Heart Association Established Investigator Award. He is also a fellow of the American Heart Association and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors.

“This is an honor for Dr. Hong, and it shows how bioengineering transcends the boundaries of engineering and is truly an interdisciplinary venture,” said Michael Cho, the Alfred R. and Janet H. Potvin Endowed Chair and professor in UTA’s Bioengineering Department. “To be recognized for contributions to chemistry shows his creativity and valuable contributions to science.”

The Royal Society of Chemistry is the United Kingdom’s professional body for chemical scientists from all over the world. The nonprofit organization, headquartered in London, represents more than 50,000 individuals and is the largest organization in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences. Fewer than 1% of chemistry professionals worldwide are given this recognition, and about 6% of the nominees are elected each year.

Fellow status is awarded to individuals who have "made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the chemical sciences; or to the advancement of the chemical sciences as a profession; or have been distinguished in the management of a chemical sciences organization.”

Written by Jeremy Agor, College of Engineering END