Award-winning chemist Zhang Wei leaves US to join China’s Great Bay University

Internationally recognized chemist Zhang Wei has departed from his role as chairman of the chemistry department at the University of Colorado Boulder to accept a full-time faculty position at Great Bay University (GBU) in China.

Zhang will assume the positions of deputy dean and chair professor within GBU’s physical sciences school. He attended a hiring ceremony at the university's Songshan Lake campus in Dongguan, Guangdong province, on July 2, where he received his appointment letter from GBU president Tian Gang, who is also a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“

Professor Zhang has long been engaged in scientific research and discipline construction at overseas high-level research universities. The fact that such an internationally outstanding young talent has chosen to come to the university is not only a recognition of the school’s educational philosophy and development direction, but also further strengthens the university’s confidence in building a high-level teaching staff.

At the ceremony, Tian highlighted Zhang's extensive experience in scientific research and academic development at high-level international universities. He expressed that Zhang's decision to join GBU signifies a strong endorsement of the university's educational philosophy and development trajectory, further bolstering confidence in its mission to build a distinguished faculty.

Zhang stated that his decision to return to China was influenced by a combination of personal and professional factors. He noted that the death of his father in 2020, coupled with pandemic-related travel restrictions, had a significant impact on him. Zhang also expressed a desire to be closer to his aging mother and spend more time with her in the next phase of his life.

“

Now that my mother is getting older, I hope that in the next stage of my life, I can be closer to her and spend more time with her.