Ben Jang, D.Sc.

Regents Professor

A Conversation with Ben

What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?

A&M-Commerce offers small-size classes. Professors are readily available to students. Students who want close attention and mentorship from professors should choose to attend A&M-Commerce.

What draws you to your discipline?

Chemistry is a fascinating subject. It helps people understand how things work at the molecular and atomic levels. It also demonstrates why waste and contaminants are problems. Understanding chemistry gives you the power to solve questions that benefit society.

What has been your favorite course to teach?

Thermodynamics is my favorite subject to teach. It covers three basic laws of thermodynamics. Once you learn all the knowledge of thermodynamics, you understand how things work in a beaker, on earth and in the universe.

Tell us about a project you are currently working on or recently completed?

Recently, I have been working on a project converting algae to bio-oils. Algae can grow in wastewater to minimize environmental issues. Converting algae to bio-oils and other products help solve energy and environmental issues at the same time.

Educational Background

• Post.Doc., Heterogeneous Catalysis and Process Engineering, Research Triangle Institute International
• D.Sc., Applied Chemistry, University of Texas at Arlington
• B.S., Chemistry, National Taiwan University

Academic Positions

• Regents Professor, Texas A&M University System, 2014-Present
• Professor, Chemistry, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2007-Present
• Head, Chemistry, TAMUC, 2007-2014
• Program Director, REU, TUES, S-STEM & Noyce projects of National Science Foundation at TAMUC, 2006-Present
• Assistant Head and Associate Professor, Chemistry, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2003-2004
• Associate Professor, Chemistry, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2001-2007

Awards and Honors

• Faculty Development Leave Award, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2006-2007

Professional Organizations

• American Chemical Society

Selected Publications

• Xinxiang Cao, Tengteng Lyu, Wentao Xie, Arash Mirjalili, Adelaide Bradicich, Ricky Huitema, Ben W.-L. Jang, Jong K. Keum, Karren More, Changjun Liu “Preparation and investigation of Pd doped Cu catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene” Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2019 accepted.
• Dai, Tianchi; Zhou, Hao; Liu, Yang; Cao, Ranran; Zhan, Jingjing; Liu, Lifen; Jang, Ben “Synergy of Lithium, Cobalt and Oxygen Vacancies in Lithium Cobalt Oxide for Airborne Benzene Oxidation: A Concept of Reusing Electronic Wastes for Air Pollutant Removal” ACS Sus. Chem. Eng., 2019, 7, 5072. DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b05894 Page 3 of 6
• Yang Liu, Wenjing Zong, Hao Zhou, Dingsong Wang, Ranran Cao, Jingjing Zhan, Lifen Liu, Ben W.-L. Jang “Tuning the Interlayer Cations of Birnessite-Type MnO2 to Enhance Its Oxidation Ability for Gaseous Benzene with Water Resistance” Catal. Sci. & Tech. 2018, 52, 5792-5802.
• Zhao Wang, Yao Zhang, Erik C. Neyts, Xinxiang Cao, Ben W.-L. Jang, Chang-jun Liu “Catalyst Preparation with Plasmas: How Does It Work?” ACS Catal. 2018, 8(3), 2093.