Professor Zhang Xumu has a lot of tags and academic achievements, for example, a classical chemical reaction named by him, and the first winner for Cope Scholar Awards from Chinese mainland, the first entrepreneur from Chinese mainland who brought biomedical companies to non-main board market of America to be listed. Recently, he gives up the lifelong tenure in USA resolutely, and enters into SUSTC as a full-time staff, chair of the Department of Chemistry, which initiates the attention from the academic circles at home and abroad.
Immersed in first-class academic atmosphere
“I have been immersed in first-class academic atmosphere for thirty years”, Professor Zhang Xumu summarized his experience from a student to a scholar briefly and firmly. He entered into the Department of Chemistry of Wuhan University as a student of grade “1978”, and graduated from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences as a master and took leave of his teacher-Mr. Lu Jiaxi, the former president of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1985, then entered into University of California, San Diego for further study. Under the guidance of Professor Gerhard N. Schauzer, he got the master’s degree in 1987; in 1992, he won the doctor’s degree of Stanford University. The same as the two scientists, K. Barry Sharpless and Robert H. Grubbs, who had got the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, his teacher was also Professor James P. Colloman, an academician of American Academy of Science; he devoted to post-doctoral research in Stanford University from 1992 to 1994. From 1994 to 2006, he acted as a lifelong professor in Pennsylvania State University, USA; in 2005, he was hired by Wuhan University as a chair professor. From 2007 to 2015, he acted as an outstanding professor in New Jersey City University; in 2011, he was employed by Wuhan University, being a professor of the Chemical and Molecular Sciences College of Wuhan University, a doctoral supervisor and the director of the Green Catalytic Institute. In July 2015, he became a leading professor and the dean of the Department of Chemistry in SUSTC.
Academically, Zhang Xumu have obtained over 30 American and world patents successively, and published more than 220 articles, in which single article has been cited for 1112 times. The concept of “Chiral Toolkit” proposed by him compounds some influential chiral ligands. In 2002, he got the Cope Scholar Awards issued by the American Chemical Society. The international peers speak highly of his research results, “The chiral ligand research used for asymmetric hydrogenation by Mr. Zhang takes an important step to practical asymmetric catalysis. The catalyst he developed to be used for highly enantioselective hydrogenated aliphatic ketone, brings the influence in the asymmetric hydrogenation aspect of simple ketone, which is about the same as that of R. Noyori, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001”. In 2014, the cyclization reaction he invented was named as Zhangenyne cycloisomerization and included into the textbook Name Reaction. No more than 5 people have won this award for several centuries.
From Bookshelves to Goods Shelves, Always Carrying the Dream of First-class University
“There always is a dream of first-class university in my heart!” Zhang Xumu says, “When I graduated as a doctor, only few Chinese people acted as professors in the top universities in USA at that time. My tutor recommended me. My dream at that time was to be a first-class professor in a world-class university. Within the past 30 years, I have worked with many first-class scholars, and been familiar with first-class universities. So I was very excited when I knew that the goal of SUSTC is to be a world-class university, and then I came here!”
However, in the opinion of Zhang Xumu, first-class university doesn’t mean to close the door while studying academics, but to show the social benefit of scientific research. That is, it shall create values for society and mankind. The achievements made by professors are not only put on bookshelves, but also on good shelves, which mean, they shall be valuable and practice.
Chiral Quest Inc., established by Zhang Xumu, as a professor who started to devote himself to industrialization since 15 years ago, has built a powerful technology platform for chiral catalyst, whose annual income has reached to RMB 0.1 billion Yuan, financing over RMB 0.3 billion Yuan. In reverse, this experience to get into industrial circle bravely enlightens him to make scientific research, lead academic team and cultivate students preferably.
Projects of the Department of Chemistry
Retired from business circles after winning merit, Zhang Xumu says, “The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship of SUSTC attracts me.” Though he has only acted as the dean of the Department of Chemistry for the second day, when talking about the projects of the Department of Chemistry of SUSTC, he has presented a grand blueprint for us in the interview.
Zhang Xumu says, with first-class university projects and back-up support, the Department of Chemistry would conduct the professional development, talent introduction, achievement transformation and talent cultivation according to the world-class standard. He said that in his future focus of work, he would spare no effort to build cultural and scientific research atmosphere of the Department of Chemistry, get more resources for teachers and students of the whole department, and create better scientific research and study environments.
“New, Youth Talents, Active Academics” are the summary of Zhang Xumu to the characteristics of the teachers of the Department of Chemistry of SUSTC. In the following time, he will vigorously introduce masters who have won the Nobel Prize, and world-leading masters with international and domestic academic experience for short-term exchange or long-term accession. “Attracting good ones from the west, integrating Chinese characteristics”, he wishes the number of professor in the Department of Chemistry in the future will reach to 50.
“Chemistry is the center of modern science, while synthetic chemistry is the center of chemistry.” Zhang Xumu says that the current strength in the direction of synthetic chemistry of the Department of Chemistry of SUSTC is stronger. They will continue to focus on the development of it. Meanwhile, they will respond the appealing of the state, enlarge the intensity of innovation and entrepreneurship, and apply the real original work into the social development.
In the aspect of student cultivation, Zhang Xumu wishes that the Department of Chemistry can cultivate students to be talents with “four haves”, i.e. with independent working ability, innovative thoughts, intuition and outlook to chemistry, and original innovative ability.
“Keep an international view, focus on the frontier of science, know about your own advantage, face the great demands of our country, and promote the development of state science”, Zhang Xumu says with full of confidence, “I believe that I can bring the Department of Chemistry of SUSTC to the world class!”
“Do not read in a pedantic way, you shall truly experience the rules in the process of creating new materials, and experience the secret and enjoyment of chemistry, with powerful creativity like synthetic chemistry.”
——Wishes to Students of the Department of Chemistry from Zhang Xumu
