Professor Qingshan Wei is a University Faculty Scholar

Professor Qingshan Wei has been selected as a member of the 2023-2024 class of NC State’s University Faculty Scholars. The University Faculty Scholars Program was established in 2012 by Chancellor Randy Woodson “to recognize and reward emerging academic leaders among our faculty…”

Faculty members selected as University Faculty Scholars carry the title for the duration of their faculty appointment at NC State and receive an increase to their base salary. Each year, approximately 20 tenured or tenure-track faculty scholars are selected from the pool of 2,400+ NC State faculty members.

Faculty members are nominated by their colleges and selected by a committee of senior faculty. Nominees are evaluated on their research and scholarship productivity, excellence in teaching and mentoring, and leadership in extension, professional societies and public service initiatives.

Professor Wei’s main research interest is to develop rapid diagnostics and miniature sensors for early disease detection. His lab is particularly interested in molecular assay methods, lab-on-a-chip devices, and optical sensor systems that can be deployed to the field or patient side for point-of-care health monitoring. Prof. Wei earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry (Analytical) from Purdue University and completed postdoc training in Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering at UCLA. The combination of his education in sensor chemistry and device engineering is a driving force behind his innovative and impactful research projects.

“Prof. Wei is working at the forefront of digital health and a pioneer in the use of sensors for detection of disease and stress, particularly in plants.  He is also an exemplary faculty member, excelling not only at research, but also in mentoring, teaching, outreach, and service,” said Prof. Sindee Simon, Head of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Additional professional recognitions include the Goodnight Early Career Innovator Award (2023), NSF Career Award (2020), and Nano Research Young Innovator (NR45) Awards in NanoBiotech (2018). Most recently, Prof. Wei received a NSF Convergence Accelerator grant for VOC sensor development with an NC State interdisciplinary research team made of faculty from ECE, MAE, CALS, Textiles, and industry and government partners.

Professor Wei attributes this recognition to many people who have been a part of his journey and deserve to share in this award. His message to these individuals is, “I would like to thank the many talented students I have worked with at NC State for their hard lab work, fantastic collaborators both inside and outside the campus, and the tremendous support I have received from my colleagues, the Emerging Plant Disease and Global Food Security Cluster, the CBE department, and the College of Engineering.”

Congratulations to Prof. Wei for this well-deserved recognition of your faculty excellence!