Professor Bor Jang brings more than teaching expertise to NDSU.

The new chair of the mechanical engineering department also brings a high-tech business, knowledge in nanoscale technology and a vision for helping his department thrive.

"I think the policy and environment are conducive to growth right now," says Jang, who came to NDSU in July. "Everything seems to be in place for this department to be a much more research-active and growing department."

If anyone can inspire students and faculty to do their best, it's Jang. The Taiwan native earned his master's and doctoral degrees in materials science and engineering from MIT. A former Fulbright scholar, he has 32 patents issued or pending in the areas of nanoscale technology, manufacturing technology and biomedical engineering.

While at his previous position at Auburn (Ala.) University, Jang co-founded Nanotek Instruments Inc., which specializes in nanomaterials, rapid-prototyping technology and medical technologies. He has moved the company, which has four employees and room to grow, to Fargo.

Also while at Auburn, Jang won numerous teaching honors, including three Outstanding Professor of the Year awards. Jang was drawn to NDSU by the opportunity to head a department, the talent of the faculty and the quality of the students. "I saw that we had very excellent undergraduate students," Jang says. "I was very impressed when I came here."

The Research and Technology Park was another magnet. Not only is it a powerful external attraction, he says, but the park also offers great opportunities within the university. "It really has a major impact on the students. It's so easy for me to convince my students to do research and senior design projects in this nanoscale or high-technology area," Jang says.

"They love it."

Jang believes the park's presence creates a two-way benefit. Students and faculty learn from its resources, but they also can contribute to it - creating research or spin-off companies that benefit everyone.

In fact, the new chair would like the department to produce more research in general. "We have many dynamic and dedicated professors in the department," he says. "They are very interested in research, but have not been able to do so due to a heavy teaching load."

The department has 15 faculty members to teach 550 undergraduates. "For the department to be successful we need to reach a critical mass, which is about 25 faculty," he says.

Jang hopes to achieve that goal in seven years. He has outlined several strategies for increasing staff and generating department research:

• Draw on the department's new doctoral program for teachers and lecturers.
• Teach young faculty members how to write proposals and apply for research and education grants.
• Encourage faculty to present research findings.
• Ask professors to band together and write group proposals, as it can be difficult for individual faculty members to have the resources and time to secure funds by themselves.
• Pursue progressive research that does not just reflect the faculty's interest area, but a sense for future technology trends.

It's an ambitious plan, but Jang maintains the time is ripe. "It is doable," he says with confidence. "NDSU is growing."