$100 MILLION
In Research Funding obtained by Iowa Chinese Scientists
Chinese Faculty and Researchers, Who are Previously H1-B Visa Holders, Help Bring major federal investment into Iowa.
Chinese faculty and researchers who are previously H1-B visa holders make significant contributions to Iowa’s research ecosystem, helping bring major federal investment into the state. The two categories below (NIH awards and NSF awards) show examples of this impact. These are only sample highlights, and there are more funding awards across institutions and disciplines.
NSF funding brought by Chinese faculty in past 5 years. That is 20% of total awarded NSF funding to Iowa.
NIH funding brought by Chinese faculty in past 5 years. That is 23% of total awarded NIH funding to Iowa.
From other awards. More data is coming, and we will continue collecting and reporting.
Critical Contribution Areas for Iowa
The areas below are compiled from the current NIH and NSF project examples on this page and are focused on topics that matter to Iowa.
Rural broadband and agriculture wireless
Projects include ARA platform, Open RAN, and rural wireless infrastructure efforts.
Agriculture resilience and climate intelligence
Examples include weather intelligence, agricultural watershed flood warning, and climate resilience research.
Bio-economy and biomanufacturing
Current records include biomanufacturing-on-a-chip and manufacturing-focused innovation projects.
Health and biomedical research
NIH-funded examples cover infectious disease, cancer, cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and oral health research.
Advanced manufacturing and materials
NSF records include additive manufacturing, ceramics, semiconductors, catalysts, and related materials projects.
AI, computing, and cybersecurity
Examples include machine learning, compiler and systems research, and security/privacy-focused projects.
This is a starting list and will continue to expand as additional records are compiled.
Chinese Faculty Highlight
Chinese faculty across Iowa universities contribute to research, teaching, and innovation in computer science, language education, business, urban planning, and agriculture.
Dr. Kan Wang — Crop Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (ISU)
Built the first public crop transformation facility in the U.S., co-led multi-million-dollar NSF projects on genome editing and maize transformation, and helped advance crop improvement for nutrition and bioethanol.
Dr. Jianming Yu — Quantitative Genetics & Maize Breeding (ISU)
Internationally recognized for work in quantitative genetics, genomics, and plant breeding, with major contributions to GWAS, nested association mapping, and genomic selection in crops.
Dr. Peng Jiang — Computer Science (UI)
Recipient of an NSF CAREER Award ($548,944) and PI on additional NSF grants including support for GPU memory management systems.
Dr. Weiguo "Patrick" Fan — Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (UI)
Henry B. Tippie Excellence Chair in Business Analytics and faculty director of the Tippie Analytics Cooperative. His work spans AI, healthcare analytics, and large-scale data science, with 300+ refereed publications, more than 17,600 citations, and support from NSF and multiple industry grants.
Dr. Jia Luo — Pathology & Neuroscience / Alcohol Research (UI)
Pathology Endowed Chair in Alcohol Research whose lab studies alcohol-related CNS development, neurodegeneration, and organ-specific disease mechanisms. His program has been supported by a VA Merit award and multiple NIH grants, with extensive publications across alcohol, toxicology, neuroscience, and cancer research.
Dr. Haifeng Qian — Urban Planning & Regional Economics (UI)
Researches entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional development; winner of the Charles M. Tiebout Prize in Regional Science.
Dr. Qihang Lin — Business/Data Science (UI)
Received an NSF sub-award to advance federated learning solutions for animal health prediction, including outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Rong Su — Tippie College of Business (UI)
Recipient of the inaugural UI Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award recognizing high-impact research and teaching.
Dr. Wenyang Zhai & Dr. Yanjie Li — Chinese Language & Literature (UI)
Contribute scholarship in modern Chinese culture, diaspora literature, translation, and foreign language acquisition and pedagogy.
Recognitions of Chinese faculty
See major honors and recognitions of distinguished Chinese faculty in Iowa, including national awards and society fellow distinctions.
View Achievements of Distinguished Chinese FacultyFundings Brought by Chinese-born Faculty
NSF Awards in Past 5 Years
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