Two years ago, Professor Xi-Cheng Zhang could not move without the aid of a wheel chair and was forced to re-learn how to walk; today he is considered one of the nation’s leading scientists.
Since Zhang joined the faculty of Rensselaer in 1992 he has been a professor of physics, applied physics, astronomy, and electrical, computer, and systems engineering.
He is a nationally established leader in terahertz technology. "He is one of the world’s leaders in the field of terahertz sciences," said Samuel Wait, assistant dean of the School of Science.
The National Science Foundation, the Army Research Service, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research are among the contributors to more than $7 million in grants and awards that support Zhang’s research.
Coming back from an international conference two years ago, Zhang suffered from a stroke that left him physically disabled for six months.
Although he is now fully recovered from the stroke, Zhang says that he will never forget those days and the people who helped him get through them.
Because Zhang’s disability prevented him from conducting research that he previously had been involved in, he made his hospital room and later his house a meeting room and scaled-down command center.
His colleagues, graduate students, and secretary often met with him there to discuss research and developments in his lab. "They were a great team. They helped me a lot, and they made sure that the work continued," said Zhang.
In September, Zhang was named the J. Erik Jonsson ’22 Distinguished Professor of Science. "All who know him know that there could not be a better candidate," said Wait. The award is very meaningful to Zhang. "It not only recognizes me—it recognizes the wonderful team that showed its support during a hard time," he said.
He added that his wife who gave up her career during his illness and Professor Toh-Ming Lu who was his mentor and colleague deserve special recognition.
Zhang and his team have 11 patents, four granted and seven pending. He also said that in the coming weeks a major breakthrough will be announced to the public.
Away from the lab, Zhang likes to garden, a hobby that he took up as a result of his years in the country. "I provide the tomatoes and vegetables for my group, and I enjoy it," he said. He has three children who attend Rensselaer, a girl and two boys. Zhang earned his bachelor’s degree from Peking University in Beijing, China. In the 1980s he came to the United States and received his Masters of Science and Ph.D. from Brown University.
