Stephen Z. D. Cheng Chief Technical Advisor

Stephen Z. D. Cheng obtained his Ph.D. in 1985 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and joined the faculty of The University of Akron in 1987.  In 1998, he was awarded the title of the Trustees Professor of Polymer Science and in 2001, Robert C. Musson Trustees Professor.  In 2002, he became the Chairman of the Department of Polymer Science.  Dr. Cheng has served as an editor for numerous professional publications in the US, Europe and China.  In 1999 he became Editor of the Americas for POLYMER and a Senior Editor in 2002.   As an expert in the structure and processing of polyimide materials, he has innovatively developed several polyimide systems which possess unique mechanical, optical and electrical properties that can be fabricated into films and other forms.  These polyimides have been used in applications in different industrial areas (alignment layers, half- and quarter-wave plates, negative retardation compensation films with oblique optical axis, etc.).     He has published over 290 refereed papers and is the author of 7 patents which specifically cover polyimide materials and applications.

William R. Fuller Vice-President of Business Development

Bill Fuller joined Akron Polymer Systems in 2007 and heads all commercial activities for the company. Bill is responsible for the global business development efforts, assessing markets and technology opportunities, and developing partnerships to generate revenue growth.  His background includes more than 12 years experience in successful early-stage technology commercialization, including patent licensing, research collaborations, and M&A activities. He came to APS from BIOMEC, Inc. (acquired by Greatbatch, Inc. in April 2007), a Cleveland-based developer, investor, and manufacturer of medical devices, where he served as Director of Business Development. Prior to that, Bill was the Director of Technology Transfer at Kent State University, known for its prestigious Liquid Crystal Institute, where he led the patent licensing and industrial research collaborations for all of the university’s research activities. In addition, Bill worked in the licensing office at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and for MCNC in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Bill has a BA, (hons.) from Capital University, and received his MBA from Kent State University’s Executive MBA Program.

Dong Zhang Vice-President, Research and New Product Development

Dong Zhang received his Ph.D. degree in polymer chemistry and physics from Beijing University, China.  After receiving his degree, he joined the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at Beijing University as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1997.  His research at the University included work on liquid crystal polymers, non-linear optical materials and polymer light emitting diods.  He then spent a year at the University of Georgia where he developed new pressure sensitive adhesives.  In 2000, he joined Professor Harris' research group at the University of Akron, where he worked on alignment layers for LCDs, photovoltaic resins, nano-composites, and optical films.  In 2004, he joined APS as a Group Leader.  He was promoted to his current position early in 2008.  In addition to overseeing the research and new product development in the company, he directs a major project on compensation films for large screen LCDs.