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NEWS RELEASE

5-28-03

Contacts:
Norman Cheville, Veterinary Medicine, (515) 294-1250
Qijing Zhang, Veterinary Medicine, (515) 294-2038
Teddi Barron, News Service, (515) 294-4778

ZHANG APPOINTED TO ISU VETERINARY MEDICINE'S RAMSEY CHAIR

AMES, Iowa -- Veterinary scientist Qijing Zhang, who researches foodborne human pathogens of animal origin, has been appointed the Frank K. Ramsey Endowed Chair in Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Zhang join our faculty," said veterinary medicine Dean Norman Cheville, who recently announced Zhang's appointment. "He is a nationally known scholar in food safety research and exemplifies the standards of excellence characteristic of Dr. Frank Ramsey."

Named for the former faculty member, the purpose of the Frank K. Ramsey Endowed Chair is to enhance the stature and programs of the veterinary medicine college at Iowa State. It is used to recruit eminent faculty, recognize outstanding faculty in the college and bring visiting professors to the college.

Zhang joined the Iowa State faculty in April as an associate professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine. He previously was an assistant professor and researcher in the food animal health research program and veterinary preventive medicine department at the Ohio State University, Columbus.

Zhang's research focuses on Campylobacter jejuni, which is the most prevalent bacterial foodborne human pathogen in the United States. His current research on antibiotic resistance, molecular biology, immune mechanisms and intervention strategies of foodborne human pathogens is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health.

Zhang earned his doctoral degree in immunobiology from Iowa State in 1994, and his master's degree in veterinary microbiology from the National Institute of Veterinary Biologics, Beijing. He was a postdoctoral researcher in molecular microbiology at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1997 before joining the Ohio State faculty in 1998.

Zhang has published more than 20 research papers and book chapters. He has served as an ad hoc reviewer for several scientific journals and grant review programs. Zhang was a review panel member for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He also served as a review panel member for four years for the American Institute of Biological Sciences for the intramural military infectious diseases research program of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command.

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