Zhang Named Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at Vet Med

August 21, 2012

Dr. Qijing Zhang has been named associate dean for research and graduate studies for the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Zhang, a professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine, replaces Dr. Mark Ackermann who has served as interim associate dean since June 2011. During his term as interim associate dean, Dr. Ackermann successfully led the college's research efforts. 

Dr. Zhang served as interim associate dean for six months, after Dr. Lisa K. Nolan accepted the position of dean of the college. "Dr. Zhang is an internationally recognized, accomplished and committed researcher in the areas of food safety and Campylobacter," said Dr. Nolan, Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine.  "I look forward to working with him again and continuing to build our research foundation." 

Dr. Zhang received his veterinary degree in 1983 from the Shandong Agricultural University in China. In 1986 he received his master’s degree in veterinary microbiology from the National Institute of Veterinary Biologics (Beijing, China). He earned his PhD in immunobiology from Iowa State University in 1994, and completed post-doctorate training in molecular microbiology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Prior to joining the faculty at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003, Dr. Zhang was an assistant professor in the Food Animal Health Research Program in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio State University.  

At Iowa State, Dr. Zhang has served on the Biotechnology Council and several college committees including as chair of the Research Advisory Committee and the International Development Committee. In 2007, he received the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence. He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology and the past chair of Division Z (Animal Health). Dr. Zhang is also member of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases and served as the section leader for Food and Environmental Safety during 2004-2006. Dr. Zhang’s research has been supported by grants from USDA and NIH, and he has served on a number of grant review panels at USDA and NIH.