Materials Science engineering professor, Dr. Zhon Lin Wang, has been awarded the MRS Medal from the Materials Research Society.  The MRS Medal, which is accompanied by a $5000 prize, recognizes an exceptional achievement in materials research in the past ten years.  Dr. Wang was awarded the medal for seminal contributions in the discovery, controlled synthesis, and fundamental understanding of ZnO nanowires and nanobelts, and the design and fabrication of novel, nanowire-based nanosensors, piezotronic devices, and nanogenerators for energy harvesting.

The Materials Research Society (MRS) is an organization of materials researchers from academia, industry, and government that promotes communication for the advancement of interdisciplinary materials research to improve the quality of life.  Founded in 1973, MRS now consists of over 15,100 members from the United States - as well as nearly 70 other countries.

Dr. Wang serves currently serves as the Hightower Chair in the School of Materials Science and Engineering. His discovery and breakthroughs in developing nanogenerators establish the principle and technological road map for harvesting mechanical energy from environment and biological systems for powering personal electronics.  Dr. Wang’s publications have been cited over 38,000 times, placing him in the top five most cited authors in the field of nanotechnology.