January 13, 2021
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Hongbin “Bill” Ma
Professor Hongbin “Bill” Ma has been named chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) by College of Engineering Interim Dean Noah Manring. Ma started his appointment Jan. 1.
“Professor Ma has the experience and know-how to lead the department. I look forward to working with him as the new chair of the mechanical and aerospace engineering department,” Manring said.
Ma will bring his research and teaching strengths to his role as department chair. As a researcher, he has received funding from a multitude of public and private sources. These funding sources include the National Science Foundation (NSF), The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Naval Research (ONR), Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Lab, Intel, Dell and Northrop Grumman.
“I believe, as chair, I can help bring more research dollars to the department and make a good contribution,” Ma said.
Focusing on students and their academic success will be important for Ma in his new role. This is because high-performing students interested in research will open up new opportunities for MAE.
“Excellent education and innovative research will be my focus for the MAE department.” Ma said.
Prior to becoming department chair, Ma gained leadership experience within MAE, serving as the Thermal Division chair for many years. He served as the program chair of the 6th ASME International Conference of Micro/Nanoscale Heat and Mass Transfer. And he is the president of two companies based in Columbia, Missouri.
About Ma
Ma received his PhD in 1995 from Texas A&M University. Since he joined MU in 1999, he has conducted active research in the fields of phase-change heat transfer, heat pipes, ejector refrigeration, and thermal management. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Intel Corp., Dell, Outokumpu, Foxconn, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Northrop Grumman, the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Leonard Wood Institute, Rockwell Automation, Gore-Tex, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the MU Research Board and the University Research Council. Ma’s research work has resulted in more than 260 publications including one book, five book chapters, and over 150 refereed journal papers.
His research efforts have led to the establishment of two companies based in Columbia. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) and the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He is an associate editor of the ASME Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Application, and the International Journal of Heat Transfer Research.