UToledo, Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium Welcome Glass Industry Expert

UToledo, Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium Welcome Glass Industry Expert

The University of Toledo and the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium are welcoming a national expert in materials science to elevate the glass industry in northwest Ohio.

Dr. Donghui Zhao, who joined UToledo as an associate professor with a primary appointment in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics with joint teaching and scholarly responsibilities in the College of Engineering, will provide academic and research leadership to the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub. UToledo is a leading academic partner in the industry-led initiative developed to strengthen the region's national leadership in glassmaking and solar energy technology, supported by a $31.3 million investment from the Ohio Department of Development.

"We're pleased to welcome Dr. Zhao to northwest Ohio, where he will play a major role in our efforts to elevate the region's already strong reputation as a global center for innovation in the glass industry," said Roger Smith, president of the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium, which operates the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub. "His technical expertise combined with his understanding of industry needs will enhance the ability of our university partners to engage with the glass industry on projects to improve performance to meet specific needs and reduce energy and other manufacturing costs."

UToledo, in collaboration and with the support of the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium, conducted an international search to identify Zhao. He holds a doctorate in materials science and engineering from Lehigh University, and he brings deep glass industry experience from leadership roles at Corning, Alkegen and Saint-Gobain.

In his new role he will serve as a liaison between industry and academia, supporting the research needs of glass industry partners while advancing talent-development opportunities at UToledo ranging from new academic programs including a new undergraduate materials science degree program to hands-on research in campus laboratories including the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization. His work will elevate northwest Ohio as a top destination for glass science and engineering in the United States.

"I am excited to join UToledo and the northwest Ohio community. What better place to be a glass professor than in the Glass City?" Zhao said. "Toledo is already well known among materials scientists for its contributions to glass science and engineering. I'm looking forward to magnifying that reputation and to making UToledo one of the national leaders in glass research and education. We can leverage existing resources and the substantial support of UToledo and the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium to expand our impact. UToledo faculty and students will become the go-to industry partners when it comes to tackling challenges and pioneering new innovations."

Dr. Marc Seigar is the dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Zhao, particularly as we launch our new materials science undergraduate program," he said. "His valuable expertise in glass science will allow him to develop new courses for students majoring in this program and help UToledo support our partners in the glass industry."

In his more than two decades of research and development work in academia and industry, Zhao has registered more than 20 innovations with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and successfully commercialized products including advanced battery materials and specialized glass fibers. He also has collaborated on research published in such peer-reviewed journals as the Journal of American Ceramic Society, the Journal of Chemical Physics and the Journal of Physical Chemistry.

His work will supplement and enhance academic offerings already established at UToledo, which U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Global Universities ranks in the top quarter of universities in materials science. U.S. News also ranked UToledo No. 1 among all global universities for the percentage of total research publications that are among the top 1% most highly cited papers in the materials science category, in large part reflecting its ground-breaking research into thin-film solar cell technology out of the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization.

"Creating a new tenure-track position is a considerable commitment from UToledo in support of the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub," said Dr. Frank Calzonetti, vice president for innovation and economic development at UToledo and a board member of the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium. "We're looking forward to working with Dr. Zhao as he develops academic programs and research projects that will support industry needs while positioning our students for impactful careers."

The Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub is one of five innovation hubs established with a $125 million investment by the Ohio Department of Development to spur investment outside major metro areas in Ohio. UToledo, Bowling Green State University and Owens Community College are the academic partners in the local hub working with industry partners including First Solar, Owens Corning, O-I Glass, Libbey, NSG/Pilkington North America and PepsiCo.