The School has named Professor Mao as its new Head of School. She will join the School from 16 September 2024.

Professor Mao will join the School after four years at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (UNSW) as their Head of School of Chemical Engineering. Under her leadership, UNSW’s achievements included increasing research income, establishing new research centres and hubs, developing industry engagement, and increasing student recruitment in 2024 after a declining trend from 2018.

Professor Mao’s research focuses on applying nanoscience for real-world applications including drug delivery and sensing. She pioneered an approach to use neural tracing proteins for targeted transport of spinal cord injury drugs.   

Professor Mao’s internationally prestigious awards include election as a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Fulbright Senior Scholar, visiting professorship at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany, and a National Science Foundation CAREER Award.  

Professor Guangzhao Mao commented:

I am humbled and honoured to have been selected for this position and to join The University of Edinburgh – a legendary world-leading university for over 400 years. Aligning with the vision of the University to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges, my broad vision for the School is to build on its strong foundations to produce engineering leaders of tomorrow and strengthen the School’s interdisciplinary and global partnerships.

Professor Iain Gordon, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Science and Engineering, added:  

As a pioneering researcher with a distinguished career in nanotechnology and its integration into education, Professor Mao will come to Edinburgh to build on the great work that is ongoing in the School.