UT Arlington’s J.-C. Chiao named Janet and Mike Greene Endowed Professor of Engineering
J.-C. Chiao, a celebrated UT Arlington electrical engineering professor who holds five patents with seven patents pending, has been named the Janet and Mike Greene Endowed Professor in the College of Engineering.
The Greenes committed $125,000 toward the professorship; their gift is being doubled in value through the University’s Maverick Match program, which uses natural gas royalties to leverage new commitments.
“It’s an exciting time to be involved with UT Arlington,” said Mike Greene, a 1969 College of Engineering graduate. “Janet and I are very pleased to be able to support the College of Engineering, its faculty and students.”
Chiao, who also is the Jenkins Garrett professor of electrical engineering, joined the University in 2002 and holds a dual appointment as an adjunct associate professor of internal medicine at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He has collected 11 major awards throughout his career, including the 2011 Tech Titans Technology Innovator Award.
Chiao was honored with a Jan. 20 reception to celebrate the award.
“I am very honored that Janet and Mike have the confidence and trust in UT Arlington and me,” he said during the event. “It’s humbling and we will try our best to foster more successful alumni like Mike Greene who made our world a better place.”
Chiao’s primary research has focused on the development of implantable sensors that can be used to treat acid reflux with fewer negative affects on patients. He won the 2011 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas for his pioneering achievements in medical devices.
Chiao’s work also has improved the ability to determine the effectiveness of drugs used to treat illness of the esophagus and stomach. In collaboration with Psychology Associate Professor Yuon Bo Peng, Chiao also has developed implants known as neurostimulators to detect and block pain signals by transmitting electric signals into neurons.
Janet and Mike Greene have been longtime supporters of the University. The couple created a separate, $1 million College of Engineering endowment last year that has been recognized with the Janet and Michael Greene Research Quadrangle near the new Engineering Research Building.
Mike Greene, an alumnus, earned his mechanical engineering degree in 1969 and is a retired vice chairman of Energy Future Holdings, formerly TXU.
Chiao's work is representative of the research under way at The University of Texas at Arlington, a comprehensive research institution of 33,439 students in the heart of North Texas. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more.
Herb Booth, hbooth@uta.edu, 817-272-7075
The University of Texas at Arlington, www.uta.edu
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