RPI School of Engineering has named R. Helen Zha, Ph.D., as a Dean’s Faculty Fellow, recognizing her exceptional accomplishments in research, education, and service. This prestigious title highlights Zha’s innovative contributions at the intersection of chemical, biological, and materials engineering, as well as her contributions to the RPI community and the broader engineering profession.

The Dean’s Faculty Fellows Program, established in 2024 through generous donor support, honors outstanding early- and mid-career faculty whose work exemplifies RPI’s mission in research excellence, educational innovation, and citizenship. Zha is the latest faculty member to be recognized through this initiative.

“Helen Zha has been at the forefront of research on natural and synthetic biomimetic materials, combining ideas and skills from multiple disciplines, for important applications in healthcare and sustainability,” said Shekhar Garde, Ph.D., the Thomas R. Farino Jr. ’67 and Patricia E. Farino Dean of the School of Engineering. “She is also an outstanding mentor, educator, and contributor to the RPI community and beyond. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Susana Navarro for her generous support of this fellowship, which allows us to recognize and retain exceptional faculty like Helen through Dean’s Faculty Fellow program.”

Zha joined RPI in 2018 as a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in January 2025. She holds a B.S. from MIT (2007) and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University (2013) in Materials Science and Engineering. She completed postdoctoral training at Eindhoven University of Technology and UC Berkeley before beginning her academic career at RPI.  At RPI, she also serves as an affiliate faculty member in the Biochemistry and Biophysics Graduate Program, a member of the Center for Engineering and Precision Medicine, and an Associate Director of the New York Fashion Innovation Center, reflecting her cross-disciplinary impact.

Zha’s research is focused on understanding natural materials and developing biomimetic systems with applications in medicine, sustainability, and beyond. She has been recognized with numerous honors, including the NSF CAREER Award, the NIH R35 MIRA Early Career Award, and selection as a Scialog Fellow. In 2019, she was named an Emerging Investigator by RSC Biomaterials Science.

In addition to her research achievements, Zha is an outstanding teacher and mentor in chemical and biological engineering.  She has mentored a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students and fostered an inclusive, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research environment.

“I am honored to be appointed a Dean’s Faculty Fellow,” said Zha. “RPI has a strong and growing community in biological and chemical engineering, and I am excited to continue contributing to our shared vision of engineering a healthier and more sustainable future.”

Zha’s appointment reflects the strength of RPI’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies in areas of importance to the future. Her work is aligned with the Rensselaer Forward plan priorities in growing research in areas such as human health, sustainability, and beyond.