Tianjin University Awards an Honorary Professorship to an Australian Fellow, Professor Anton Middelberg

Professor Anton Middelberg, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and Vice President (Research) at the University of Queensland (UQ), visited Tianjin University (TJU) from May 26 to 27, 2015, when he received an appointment as an Honorary Professor of TJU.

On May 27, 2015，the conferring ceremony was held. President Li Jiajun and Professor Gong Jinlong, Vice Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, TJU attended the ceremony which was presided by Professor Yang Fuling, Director of the Office of International Cooperation. Professor Gong Jinlong provided an introduction and gave an overview of the academic achievements of Professor Middelberg.

President Li Jiajun spoke highly of Professor Middelberg’s contribution in promoting and fostering the relationship between UQ and TJU. President Li briefly introduced the future plan of TJU and the strengths in teaching chemical engineering at TJU, and expressed his hope that the contribution by Professor Middelberg would play an important role in further developing the education and training of chemical engineers at TJU. Professor Middelberg said that he was impressed by the unique approach and application of solving engineering problems through physics, as well as the outstanding achievement in the university-industry research collaboration. He also expressed his keenness in promoting and strengthening the collaboration in scientific research between UQ and TJU.

During the visit, Professor Middelberg delivered a lecture on his research work Engineering with Biomolecules which benefited both the teachers and students who attended his presentation.

Professor Anton Middelberg is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and Vice President (Research) at the University of Queensland. He has been engaged in research in bio-inspired nanotechnology. Professor Middelberg is a worldwide famous biological engineering expert and he has achieved a series of original innovation in virus-like particle and nanoemulsion self-assembly as well as the invention of peptide surfactants. In 2010, Professor Middelberg was awarded the Queensland Premier’s Fellowship for his research into low-cost-rapid-response nanovaccines manufacture, and also was honored as one of Australia’s 100 most influential engineers. Professor Middelberg has actively promoted the collaboration of scientific research between UQ and TJU and made great contribution to deep cooperation.