Tom Chang

College of Science

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Dr. Tom Chang has mentored undergraduate researchers since his arrival at USU in 2000. His first publication with an undergraduate coauthor appeared in 2001. Since then, he has amassed a total of 23 publications that list undergraduate student coauthors, with eight since 2010. Dr. Chang has mentored a total of 42 undergraduate researchers during his USU career, including 20 in the past four years. Six students have been recipients of URCO grants, and two additional students have received SURCO awards. His students routinely present at local, regional, and national meetings. A unique aspect of Dr. Chang’s mentorship is the fact that he includes undergraduates from a wide variety of backgrounds, including students from outside the sciences, in his research program. At the same time, he holds his students to very high standards and expects each to think deeply about his/her project and put in the time needed to obtain results. Many of his former undergraduates have gone on to establish careers in the health professions, entered graduate programs, or obtained jobs in industry.