Written by: Paola Pinto June 14, 2023 Dr. Lingze Duan, Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives The College of Science at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lingze Duan as the new Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives. Dr. Duan, an accomplished optical scientist with an impressive academic background and 16 years of trajectory at UAH, will bring valuable expertise and leadership to his new role. Dr. Duan's educational journey is marked by a diverse knowledge base and a commitment to interdisciplinary research. He obtained a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD) in 2002, preceded by a B.S. in Physics from Tsinghua University (Beijing, China) in 1995. His academic pursuits also include postdoctoral experiences in the Physics Department at Penn State University from 2004 to 2007 and in the Research Lab of Electronics at MIT from 2002 to 2004. Dr. Duan has held various academic positions at UAH. He has served as a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UAH since 2020, as an Associate Professor from 2013 to 2020, and as an Assistant Professor from 2007 to 2013. He has strived to pursue excellent teaching and outstanding research within these capacities. His efforts and accomplishments have been recognized by several university-wide awards, including a Junior Faculty Distinguished Research Award (2011), the Graduate Mentor Award (2021) and the College of Science Outstanding Faculty Award (2022). A multi-term Faculty Senator, Dr. Duan has also taken on various leadership and service roles at UAH, serving in several campus-wide committees such as the UAH Strategic Plan Steering Committee and the SACSCOC Assessment Committee. Dr. Lingze Duan Dr. Duan's research expertise lies in the field of optics, specifically focusing on laser optics and fiber optics. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed or refereed technical publications and has mentored 8 Ph.D. graduates. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a Senior Member of IEEE and IEEE Photonic Society, and a Senior Member of OPTICA (formerly OSA). With a profound passion for Physics, he has been actively teaching optics courses within the Physics Department, spearheading the department's undergraduate curriculum for the optics concentration. Despite assuming an administrative role, Dr. Duan will continue teaching and research. With great enthusiasm, Dr. Duan expresses his delight in assuming this new role while attributing his inspiration to Dr. Rainer Steinwandt, Dean of the College of Science. “One of the main reasons for me to accept this position is my great respect for Dr. Steinwandt's remarkable passion, visionary approach, and grounded working style,” said Dr. Duan. Fuelled by the College's noteworthy trajectory in graduate programs and research in recent years, Dr. Duan looks forward to positively impacting the growth of the College of Science, "I like where the College is going right now in terms of graduate programs and research. We have some of the best programs nationwide, such as Astronomy and Astrophysics, Atmospheric and Earth Science, and Computer and Information Sciences. We are doing great for a school this size, and we have the potential to do even better." As Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives, he will play a pivotal role in developing initiatives and policies to enhance the efficiency of research-related processes in the College of Science. The College of Science anticipates Dr. Lingze Duan's wealth of knowledge and dedication will significantly contribute to the success and growth of UAH's graduate programs and research endeavors.
