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Rong Zhang

Senior Lecturer

University of North Texas

Department of Chemistry

Email: Rong.Zhang@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, Purdue University, 2011
    Major: Chemical Engineering
    Specialization: Catalysis
    Dissertation: Catalyst and Microsystem Investigation for the Selective Detection of Co in Concentrated H2 Fuels Using Mixed Copper Cerium Oxide Catalysts
  • MS, Purdue University, 2010
    Major: Chemical Engineering
  • MSc, Miami University, 2007
    Major: Paper and Chemical Engineering
    Specialization: Solar Cells
  • BE, Jilin Universtiy, 2003
    Major: Environmental Engineering

Development Activities

  • Self-Study Program, Certificate of the Generative AI Institute for Teaching (GAIT), UNT CLEAR. United States of America. (August 15, 2025 - December 5, 2025).
  • Self-Study Program, Certificate of Excellence for Teaching Online (CETO), UNT DSI CLEAR. United States of America. (January 8, 2025 - May 5, 2025).
  • Self-Study Program, Application for the Open Course Authorizing Institute (OCAI), UNT DSI CLEAR. Denton,Texas,United States of America. (August 15, 2024 - December 15, 2024).
  • Self-Study Program, ACUE's Course in Effective Teaching Practices, University of North Texas. Denton,Texas,United States of America. (April 2023 - May 31, 2024).
  • Other (Bridge Training and Workshops), Bridge Training and Workshops, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (September 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022).
  • Conference Attendance, Adopt a Chemical Substance: Explore How Chemistry Topics Are Crosslinked, University of North Texas. Denton,TX,United States of America. (July 30, 2022 - August 1, 2022).
  • Self-Study Program, New Faculty Program, UNT DSI-CLEAR. Denton,TX,United States of America. (September 1, 2021 - June 1, 2022).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • CHEM 1310 - Mathematical Introduction to General Chemistry, 1 course.
  • CHEM 1410 - General Chemistry I for Science Majors, 33 courses.
  • CHEM 1420 - General Chemistry II for Science Majors, 10 courses.
  • CHEM 1980 - Experimental Course, 6 courses.

Teaching at Other Institutions

  • University of South Florida, CHM 2045 General Chemistry I, Fall 2020.

Directed Student Learning

  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Creating and Running Clicker Questions during Gen Chem II Recitation Sessions," Biological Sciences. (December 2022 - May 2023).
  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Adopt a Chemical Substance: Exploring how Chemistry Topics are Crosslinked," Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science. (August 2022 - March 2023).
  • Other (Motivate undergraduate students to do research with chemistry professors), Chemistry. (January 20, 2022 - December 10, 2022).

Awards and Honors

  • Nominated for Faculty Advisor of the Year, UNT student. (June 27, 2025).
  • Nominated for the Professor Floyd Graham Award University Teaching Award, University of North Texas. (2023).

Research

Presentations Given

    Oral Presentation

  • Zhang, R. (Author & Presenter), 2022 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Adopt a Chemical Substance: Explore How Chemistry Topics Are Crosslinked, University of North Texas, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America. (2022 - 2022).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Service

  • Moss, A.E. (Principal), Zhang, R. (Co-Principal), "Advising Programs to Improve Retention Rates of At-Risk Students," sponsored by UNT, University of North Texas, $7000 Funded. (2024 - 2024).

    • Grant - Teaching

  • Zhang, R. (Principal), "University of North Texas Open Educational Resources (OER) Grant – Visual Aids for General Chemistry II CHEM 1420," sponsored by UNT DSI CLEAR, University of North Texas, $3000 Funded. (2025 - 2025).
  • Kinyanjui, S.N., Zhang, R., "Redesign CHEM 1980 Mathematical Introduction to General Chemistry to Increase the Retention Rate of At-Risk Students in General Chemistry," sponsored by College of Science, University of North Texas, $7000 Funded. (2024 - 2024).
  • Zhang, R. (Principal), " University of North Texas Summer Open Educational Resources Grant - Math Modules for General Chemistry I and II," sponsored by University of North Texas, University of North Texas, $2000 Funded. (2022 - 2022).
  • Zhang, R. (Principal), " University of North Texas Summer Open Educational Resources Grant: Adopt a Chemical Substance: Explore How Chemistry Topics Are Crosslinked," sponsored by University of North Texas, University of North Texas, $3000 Funded. (2022 - 2022).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC). (January 3, 2025 - December 2025).
  • Program Coordinator, Peer-Led Team Learning for General Chemistry I and II (Jan 2025 ~ December 2025). (January 2025 - December 2025).
  • Chairperson, Undergraduate Affairs Committee (January 2025 - December 2025). (January 2025 - December 2025).
  • Program Coordinator, CHEM 1420 General Chemistry II. (August 2023 - December 2025).
  • Faculty Advisor, Student Organization of Hearts for the Homeless. (August 2023 - December 31, 2025).
  • Program Coordinator, CHEM 1980 Mathematical Introduction to General Chemistry. (January 8, 2023 - December 31, 2025).
  • Other (Teaching Mentor for Two Teaching Fellows of Chemistry), Teaching Mentor for Ms. Olajumoke Ayeni and Ms Aida Yahagh. (August 7, 2025 - December 8, 2025).
  • Committee Member, Health Professions Scholarship Committee. (January 3, 2025 - March 31, 2025).
  • Committee Member, Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC). (January 3, 2024 - December 2024).
  • Program Coordinator, Peer-Led Team Learning for General Chemistry I and II (Jan 2024 ~ December 2024). (January 2024 - December 2024).
  • Chairperson, Undergraduate Affairs Committee (January 2024 - December 2024). (January 2024 - December 2024).
  • Faculty Advisor, Undergraduate Faculty Advisor (Jan 2024 ~ Dec 2024). (January 2024 - December 2024).
  • Other (Mentor), Mentoring Peer-Led Team Learning for General Chemistry (Fall 2024). (August 19, 2024 - December 6, 2024).
  • Other (Peer Reviewer), Peer Review for Dr. Stephanie Liu's Promotion for Senior Lecturer. (April 2024 - August 2024).
  • Other (Mentor), Mentoring Peer-Led Team Learning for General Chemistry (Spring 2024). (January 15, 2024 - May 3, 2024).
  • Committee Chair, Reappointment Committee of Dr. Austen Moss (March 2024). (January 2024 - March 2024).
  • Committee Chair, Reappointment Committee of Dr. Stephanie Liu (March 2024). (January 2024 - March 2024).
  • Chairperson, Undergraduate Affairs Committee (August 2023 - December 2023). (August 2023 - December 2023).
  • Program Coordinator, Peer-Led Team Learning for General Chemistry I and II (Jan 2023 ~ December 2023). (January 2023 - December 2023).
  • Faculty Advisor, Undergraduate Faculty Advisor (Jan 2023 ~ Dec 2023). (January 2023 - December 2023).
  • Other (Mentor), Mentoring Peer-Led Team Learning for General Chemistry (Fall 2023). (August 14, 2023 - December 8, 2023).
  • Committee Chair, Promotion Committee for Dr. Sophia Kinyanjui. (August 2023 - October 2023).
  • Other (Associate Chair), Undergraduate Affair Committee (Sept 2021 ~ July 2023). (September 2021 - July 2023).
  • Other (Mentor), Mentoring Peer-Led Team Learning for General Chemistry (Spring 2023). (January 16, 2023 - May 5, 2023).
  • Committee Chair, Reappointment Committee of Dr. Austen Moss (March 2023). (January 2023 - March 2023).
  • Committee Chair, Reappointment Committee of Dr. Sophia Kinyanjui (March 2023). (January 2023 - March 2023).
  • Committee Chair, Reappointment Committee of Dr. Stephanie Liu (March 2023). (January 2023 - March 2023).
  • Faculty Mentor, Faculty Mentor. (August 1, 2022 - February 2, 2023).
  • Program Coordinator, Peer-Led Team Learning for General Chemistry I and II (Sept 2021 ~ Dec 2022). (July 2021 - December 2022).
  • Faculty Advisor, Undergraduate Faculty Advisor (Sept 2021 ~ Dec 2022). (August 1, 2021 - December 1, 2022).

Professional Service

  • Other (Connecting Person between BioStone and Chemistry Department at UNT), BioStone Animal Health LLC. Southlake, TX. (March 2024 - Present).
  • Guest Speaker, North Rviverside Elementary School. Fort Worth, Texas. (May 20, 2024 - May 20, 2024).
  • Guest Speaker, STEM Demonstration Organized by College of Engineering. Denton, Texas. (March 27, 2024 - March 27, 2024).