Zeng alumini

Professor Zeng is a preeminent educator. She has trained ~30 post-doctoral fellows, eight visiting professors, 13 master’s thesis students and 10  Ph.D. thesis students and eight visiting graduate students from  other institutions.  She also trained  more than 20 undergraduate students and 12 high school students for research projects. She developed two new graduate level courses (i.e. electrochemistry and biosensors) and   two new undergraduate laboratories practice   for the undergraduate analytical chemistry course. Currently her lab has four postdoc fellows, 3 Ph.D. students. Several of the graduate students in her lab have received University or Regional awards for their research. Seventeen of her former students or postdocs obtained very competitive tenure track faculty positions world wide ( US, China, Indian and Saudi Arabic) .  Many of  her former students work as analytical chemists and/or chemical engineers in the leading industry.   She was nominated by Oakland University to compete for the NSF Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in 2012 and ACS Analytical Chemistry Award in 2014.  

Outside the classroom, Professor Zeng has served on her department’s steering committee, the graduate admissions committee and search committees. Additionally, she has served on the College of Arts and Sciences Assembly, the University Research Committee and the OU-Beaumont Medical School Advisory Committee. She has served over 70 grant review panels for US federal funding agencies including NSF, NIH and DOD as well as other countries ( e.g. Europe and Israel)

CURRENT PH.D. GRADUATE STUDENTS at University of Missouri

1.         Fatemeh Fathi (Fall 2020-present), electrochemical sensor method development to detect   chemical and biochemical species for health applications.

2.         Mildred Emegha (Jan. 2024-present), wearable gas sensor development for environmental, health and energy applications.

3.         Mohammad Hossein (Fall 2024-present),  gas sensor development for industrial process control, gas leak detection and source localization.

4.         Lixin Hou (Fall 2024-present), multifunctional material design and development for detection of multiple neurotransmitters ex vivo and in vivo.

5.         Winne Fernanda (Fall 2024-present), biosensor development to study carbohydrate-protein interactions for infectious disease diagnostics.

6.     Ayooluwa Ilesanmi (Fall 2024-present),  understanding peptide aggregation and peptide-peptide interaction for neurodegenerative diseases: a computational and experimental study

 CURRENT M.S. GRADUATE STUDENTS at University of Missouri

1. Saamia Salik (Jan. 2024- April 2025),  biosensor development to detect microRNA in clinical samples.

CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS at University of Missouri

1.      Aidan Garlock, (Summer 2024-Winter 2025), Study of redox chemistry of quinone and its derivatives for their biosensing applications.

2.      Nguyen Dante, (Fall 2024- present), Design microfluidics to study Biointeractions  under various physical conditions

3.  Dennis Li ( summer 2025),   NSF Research for Undergraduate students Program at Chemical and Biomedical Engineering,  University of Missouri Columbia,  Currently an undergraduate student from University of California Berkeley, Chemical Engineering and Material Science. 

CURRENT POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

1.         Dr. Xiaojun Liu, (Aug. 2017-present), Senior Scientist, Electrochemical particle sensing for environmental, health,  and industrial safety applications.

2.         Dr. GuoHao-Chen  (Jan. 2023-present), Miniaturized chemical sensor design, fabrication and characterization for in situ detection of important chemicals.

3.         Dr. Kamal Arora (Dec. 2022- present),  Understanding the interface structure and properties of multifunctional chemical and biosensing materials for real-time chemical and biosensor development.

4.         Dr. Yu Yao ( Starting  July 1, 2023),  Electrocatalysis for chemical sensors and biosensors

PH.D. THESIS ADVISOR    

PH.D. THESIS ADVISOR  at University of Missouri

1.       Tongtong Chen, Ph.D. 2024, Electrochemistry and Surface Chemistry Study of Transition Metal-Ionic Liquid Interfaces:   Electrochemical Applications, Analytical chemist at Integrated Laboratory Providers, Michigan.

2.      Tobias Glossman, Ph.D. 2024, Computational study of ionic liquids/electrode interfacial reactions for environmental and energy applications, Principle System Engineer at Mercede Benz, Vice Chair for Electrochemical Society Detroit session.

PH.D. THESIS ADVISOR at Oakland University

1.      Lu Lin, Ph.D. 2019, Ionic Liquid Electrochemical Gas Sensors: Analytical Method Development, Characterization and Validation for Detections of Multiple Gases,  Analytical Scientist at Great Lake Authority, MI.

2.      Ke Qu (Fall 2014-August 2018), Conductive Polymers and Their Applications in Electrochemistry, Bio-sensing and Environmental Analysis, ( Offer received to be tenure track assistant professor at Southwest Petroleum Univ. and Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China. Final position: Chengdu University of Technology), Won 2018 best Ph.D. thesis award at Oakland University.  

3.         Min Guo, Ph.D. 2017, Thesis: Fundamental and applied study of electrochemical interfacial processes of SO2 and NO2, Current position: Analytical Chemist at Avomeen Analytical Services.

4.         Yuqin Shang, Ph.D. 2013, Thesis: Affinity –based Label Free Immunosensor for Detection and Quantification of Bioanalytes in Human Clinical Samples, Current position: Research  Scientist, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University.

5.         Kuangyu Hou, Ph.D.  2010, Thesis: Conductive Polymer Modified Electrodes and Their Applications as Biomembranes and Gas Sensing Materials, First position: Postdoc at California State University in Los Angeles, Current position: field scientist in industry.

6.         Yijun Tang, Ph.D. 2009, Thesis: Development, Characterization and Applications of Electrodes Modified with Conductive Polymers, Ionic Liquids and Proteins, Current position: Professor (tenured) and Chair at Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

7.         Xiaoxia Jin, Ph.D. 2008, Thesis: A fundamental and Applied Study of Ionic Liquids as Gas Sensing Materials, Current position: chemist in industry.

8.         Zhihong Shen, Ph.D. 2008, Thesis:  Label-free Biomolecular Sensors Using Recombinant Antibody, Carbohydrate, or DNA, Current position: chemist in industry

M.S. THESIS ADVISOR at Oakland University  

1.      Dreana William, M.S. 2023,  Electrochemical Biosensor Development for Detecting Oxidative Stress via Detection of Reactive Aldehyde.   Research and Development Technician at ND Industries, 2023.

2.    Jacqueline Paul, M.S. 2019,  A Study of Antibiotic Resistance Effects on the Electrochemical Detection of Escherecia Coli.   Best 2019 MS thesis award at Oakland University, R& D Chemist, Henkel. 

3.      Ian Archbold, M.S. 2019, Monolithic Optical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (OQCM) and the Characterization of a Peptide Based Biosensor, Ph.D. student at Department of Chemistry, Wayne State Univ. 

4.      Tobias Glossamn, M.S. 2018, Investigation of Structure and dynamics at the interface of ionic liquid/electrode and ionic liquid/ionic solid, Current Position: Principal System Engineer, Daimler (www.daimler.com), Ph.D. student at Department of Chemistry, Oakland Univ.  

5.      Norman R. Leo, M.S. 2017, Microenvironmental Influences on Label-free Biosensor Immobilized Recognition Elements.  Current Position: Process specialist, General Motor, MI

6.      Peiling Lin, M.S. 2013, Thesis: Label Free Biosensor Development and Ionic Liquid-Electrode Interface Characterization for Sensor Application. Current Position: academic staff for international study, Xiamen University, China.

7.      Adel Mahfoud, M.S. 2012, Thesis: Characterization of Solid Supported Lipid Bilayer and Solid Supported Lipid Bilayer Incorporated Protein by FT-IR Reflection, QCM and Electrochemical Techniques.  

8.      Yu Du, M.S. 2010, Thesis: Redox Properties of Gold and Conductive Polymer Modified Electrode in Ionic Liquids.

9.      Weilian Qiu, M.S. 2008, Thesis: Design of Conductive Polymer and Recombinant Antibody Biointerfaces for Non-invasive Biosensor Development.

10.      Richard West, M.S. 2006, Thesis: A Study of the Interaction with Amino Acids with Conducting Polymers by Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Methods.  Current: Tenure Track Assistant Professor at Lake Erie College, Ohio.

11.  Garcia Diego, M.S. 2005, Thesis: Ionic Liquid High Temperature Gas Sensors. Current: Engineer at General Motor Brazil.

12.  Kuangyu Hou, M.S. 2003, Thesis: Novel Techniques for Designing Nanosized Layers on Gold Surfaces by Underpotential Deposition and Self-Assemble Processes.

13.   Meghna Sathe, M.S. 2002, Thesis: Study of Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Poly(vinylferrocene) in Strong and Weak electrolytes.

Thesis co-advisor

1.         Yuteng Zhang (M.S. 2018), Ionic Liquid gas sensors for multiple gas monitpring for environmental and industry safety applications. (Visiting MS student from Department of Chemistry, School of Metallurgical Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology , Xi’ An, China. Period supervised (July 2016 –Dec. 2017).

2.         Yaping Zhou (Ph.D. expected 2014, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Hunan Normal Univ. period supervised: 11/2012-11/2013).  

3.         Chunhui Xiao (Ph.D. 2012, Electrochemistry and Electroanalytical Chemistry, Hunan Univ., period supervised: 08/2010-03/2012), Current Position: Assistant Professor at Department of Chemistry at Xi An Jiao Tong Univ.  Xi An, China.

4.         Dongdong Zhang (Ph.D. June 2011, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Shaanxi Normal Univ., period supervised:  01/2010-12/31/2010), Current Position: Associate Professor at Medical School at Xi An Jiao Tong Univ.  Xi An, China.

5.         Yanyan Wang (Ph.D. 2010, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Nankai Univ., period supervised: 04/2008-08/2009), Current Position: Assistant professor, Tian Jing University, China.

6.         Yu Zhang (M.S. 2007, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Ohio State Univ., period supervised: 2001-2006), Current Position: Staff Scientist at Abbott Bioresearch Center located at Worcester, MA. 

7.         MinChuan Huang (Ph.D. 2008, Bioanalytical Chemistry/organic chemistry, Ohio State Univ. period supervised:  2004-2006), Current Position: Staff Scientist at AAPharmaSyn, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI.

PAST POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

1.      Sudeshna Mondal ( Nov. 2021- July 2022), Chemical sensor for environmental pollutant monitoring, Associate Scientific Editor  for Materials Science journals (Elsevier) .

2.  Dr. Jian Ju ( May 2018-Feb.2020), Chemical and biosensor for for Environmental and Health monitoring.  Associate professor, Chinese Academy of Science Wenzhou Univ. 

3.   Dr. Jian Li (July 26, 2017- July 2018),  chemical and biosensor for Environmental and Health monitoring, Associate Professor at Northwest Univ., Xi An, China.

4.         Dr. Yongan Tang, (July 1, 2014-Feb. 28, 2017), ionic liquid –electrode interface characterization and gas sensor development. Lab and R &D manager at DOD technologies Inc. at Chicago to manage gas sensor product line and develop new gas sensors and now  senior Analytical Chemist at Heinz Company at Chicago.  

5.         Dr. Asim Khan (July 10, 2016- April 14, 2017), ionic liquid gas sensor development for Environmental Health monitoring, Analytical Services Manager at Eurofins | mgt. An international testing and support services providing company, Australia.

6.         Dr. Xiaowei Chi (July 1, 2014- Feb. 2016), Ionic liquid gas sensor development for Environmental Health monitoring. Current assistant professor at Shanghai Ceramic institute, Chinese Academy of Science.   

7.         Dr. Juan Liu (March 2015- May 2016), Miniaturized chemical and biosensor development and validation.

8.         Dr. Zhe Wang (Oct.1 2009-August 9, 2014), ionic liquid based electrochemical sensor developments for CH4, H2, CO, CO2, NO, NO2, SO2, O2.  2014-2019, Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Department of Chemistry, Xavier Univ. of Louisianan.  Current: Tenure track assistant profess of  Physical chemistry at Oakland University.   ( Welcome  and Congratulations for Dr. Wang to come back to Oakland University  as a tenure track Faculty).

9.         Dr. Abdul Rehman (08/2010-08/2013), electrochemical and piezoelectric sensor array for explosive compounds detection, Current Position: Visiting Assistant Professor at Department of Chemistry at Oakland Univ. (2014); Current Position: Tenure track assistant professor at Chemistry Department at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)  Sept.1, 2015 -present.  Since 2020,  Rehman is an Expert, Sciences and Technologies Sector. The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). 

10.         Dr. Fen Ma (May 2013- Feb. 2015), Label free biosensors for bacterial detection. Current Position: Associate professor of Chemistry at Northwest Univ. Xi An China.

11.         Dr. Chunhui Xiao (10/2012-11/2013), EQCM based IL explosive sensor development, Current Position: Assistant Professor at Department of Chemistry, XI An Jiao Tong Univ. Xi An, China.

12.     Dr. Liang Tan (02/2012- 02/2013), EQCM based chemical and biosensor development, Current Position:  Professor of Chemistry at Hunan Normal Univ. China.

13.     Dr. Chaminda Hettige (02/2012- 02/2013), Ionic liquids based electrochemical impedance sensor for mine gases detection.

14.     Yang Liu (2008-2009), scFv Based Nanoparticle Biosensors, Current Position:  Associate Professor at Department of Chemistry at Tsing Hua Univ. Beijing, China.

15.     Dr. Singaravelu Velayudham ( Jan. 2011- Dec.2011), Conductive Polymer and Ionic Liquid Composites for Gas Sensors.

16.     Dr. Yue Huang (04/2011-12/2011), Miniaturized EQCM Instruments Development, Current Position: Research Assistant Professor at Michigan State Univ.

17.     Dr. Pankaj R. Singh, (07/2010-12/2011), Current Position: Assistant professor at Department of Chemistry at Sikkim Manipal University, India.

18.     Dr. Lei Yu (2003-2008), Current Position: Associate Professor (tenured) at Department of Chemistry at Raven Univ. NJ

19.     Dr. Amarchand  Sathyapalan (2007), Current Position: Postdoc at Univ. of Utah

20.     Dr. Caide Xiao (2006), Current in industry in Canada

21.     Dr. Tatiana Delaney (2005), Current Position: Professor and  associate Chair of Biology at St. Joseph College, NY.

22.     Dr. Qinji Xie (2002), Current Position: Professor of Chemistry at Hunan Normal Univ.

23.     Dr. Wei Jin (April 1, 2014- July 31, 2014), Postdoc in US.

PAST VISITING PROFESSORS FUNDED BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENTS FOR SABBATICAL RESEARCH

1.       Tianrong Zhan ( August 2019 to July 2020), Professor, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology.

2. Professor Yuhong Tian, (Dec. 2015 to Dec. 2016), Conductive Polymer Based Chemical Sensor Development, Department of Chemistry, School of Metallurgical Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology , Xi’ An, China. 

3.       Professor Yu Liu, Department of Chemistry, Tian Jing Univ. P.R. China, Jan. 11, 2014- Jan. 11, 2015.  Electrochemical characterization of the redox activities of antioxidant dendrimers. 

4.       Professor Salem Aqeel, Fulbright Scholar, QIT Leader, BCTP Thamar University, March 2014- Sept. 28, 2014.  Characterization of Carbon Nanotube and Polymer Composites.  

5.       Professor Xu Chen, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China, Feb. 5th, 2013- Nov. 18th 2013.

6.       Professor Hongjuan Zeng, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, Feb. 5th, 2012- Feb.4  2013.

7.       Professor César Augusto Souza de Andrade Universidade Federal de Pernambuco – UFPE,  Brazil, Nov. 17, 2010-Feb.17, 2011.

8.       Professor Danielly Lima, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco – UFPE,  Brazil, Nov. 17, 2010-Feb.17, 2011.

9.       Professor Chunyan Sun,  Department of Food Quality and Safety, Ji Lin Univ.  P.R. China. Mar.1, 2011- Feb. 28, 2012.

Other mentor activities: 

Supervised 11 MS students,  27 undergraduate students  and  10 high school students for research credits and training and Trained thirteen high school students for science projects.  

EXAMPLE  OF PAST  HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : 

Madelyn Chau,  ( Fall 2019,  West Bloomfield High School, 12th grade) : arctic soil sensor, now undergraduate student at University of Michigan

Sara Huang (2018 summer, Troy High school, 11th grade,) : Biosensor for cellular analysis, now undergraduate student at University of Michigan  

Finsam Samson  ( Troy High School, 11th grade, 2018 summer-  summer 2019): Biosensor for quantification of oxidative stress.  Now undergraduate student at Stanford University

THESIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER

1.         Ph.D.  Zhijin Lin (2015), Use of 17O-NMR Spectroscopy to Study the Coordination Chemistry of  Trivalent Lanthanide Ions in Solution, Thesis advisor: Dr. Mathew J. Allen, Wayne State Univ. Chemistry Department.

2.         M.S.  Geeta  Venkatesh (2010),  The use of one dimensional gas chromatography for Generating Solubility Descriptors and predicting two dimensional chromatographyic retention. Thesis advisor : Dr. John  Seely at Oakland University.

3.         M.S.  Rita Mofidi (2010),  Creation of the dynamic  trapping method for preconcentration  of volatile organic compounds for analysis by gas chromatography. Thesis advisor : Dr. John  Seely at Oakland University.

4.         M.S. Carly Bates (2011), Comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography and its usefulness, Thesis advisor : Dr. John  Seely  at Oakland University.

5.         M.S. Kuan-Jen Chen (2012),  Electrochemical mediation of hydrogenase –inspired  electrocatalyst: attempts to lower over potential. Thesis advisor : Dr. Greg Felton at Oakland University.

6.         Ph.D. Haneen Al-Hmoud (2010), Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water: Occurrence, Toxicity, and Removal by Ozone Treatment. Thesis advisor: Linda Schweitzer at Oakland University. 

7.         Abhijit Ghosh, Ph.D. ( 2014), Novel Method of Preconcentration and Separation of Volatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography and Two-dimensional Gas Chromatography, Thesis Advisor: John Seeley, Department of Chemistry, Oakland University 

Recent Past Undergraduate students  ( over 30 undergraduate student researchers)

Matthew D'Onofrio ( Jan. 2019- 2020): Biosensor for neurotransmitters

Andrew Lekarczyk (2016-Dec. 2017), Honor college thesis: Biosensor for diagnostics of Alzheimer disease. ( Honor thesis with distinction), Accepted to University of Michigan Medical School  class 2020.

Jordon McMahan (2017- May 2019), EGB4995 thesis:  Investigation of Ionic Liquid Interface Properties for Application in Carbon Monoxide Detection.  Analytical chemist at Avomeen Analytical Services in Ann Arbor,  2020

Benjamine Ding ( 2018 summer): Chemical sensor for trace metal detection in particulate matter

Adela Negoita  ( Fall 2018-2019): Nitrative stress and auditory dysfunction

Rose Goll ( Winter 2020-present): ROS and its effects on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases

Cody  Chavalia ( winter 2020-present) : neurotransmitters ( dopamine, GABA and acetylecholine) and their  biology roles in retia and current methods to detect these neurotransmitters