March 23, 2026
The Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity in Physical and Mathematical Sciences comes on the heels of a $2.3m NIH award.
At Mizzou Engineering, we’re expanding our strengths in research and innovation at the energy-materials-information nexus. Here, researchers are aligning engineering solutions with society’s greatest needs.
One of those researchers is Zheng Yan, who has been chosen as the 2026 recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity in Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
This award, announced March 17 by University of Missouri President Mun Y. Choi, provides a $1,000 stipend plus $2,000 for research support. The award will be presented at a Faculty Excellence Week reception May 5.
“I sincerely appreciate the outstanding research environment at Mizzou, and I am especially grateful for Dean Chrysochoou’s leadership. The strong and supportive environment in Mizzou Engineering has been instrumental to our work,” Yan said. “I look forward to continuing to advance our research mission and contributing to the university’s excellence.”
Yan also recently received a National Institutes of Health R01 award, with a total projected funding of $2.3 million over the four-year project period. This support will advance his development of starfish-inspired wearable tech for heart monitoring and evaluation on patients.
Yan is a Cramer W. LaPierre Professor and associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (ChBME) and a NextGen Precision Health researcher.
“The strength of Dr. Yan’s research on materials, devices and soft electronics is helping drive our department as we take on pressing challenges in health and other fields,” ChBME Chair Jennifer Fiegel said.
“Dr. Yan’s contributions reflect brightly on the college and the university,” Dean Marisa Chrysochoou said. “He represents the kind of research and innovation that are hallmarks of Mizzou Engineering.”