Biography

Donggao Zhao, Ph.D., a faculty member at UMKC School of Dentistry, directs the UMKC’s Electron Microscope Laboratory Core Facility (EM Lab), where he oversees training and instruction in both theoretical principles and hands-on techniques, manages the operation and maintenance of EM instruments, and develops and refines experimental protocols and procedures to ensure optimal facility performance.   Dr. Zhao’s research interests span the physical and life sciences, with a particular focus on the interfaces and interactions between organic and inorganic matter. His expertise centers on applying electron microbeam and X-ray techniques to characterize both naturally occurring and laboratory-synthesized inorganic and organic materials across disciplines in physical sciences, life sciences, and engineering.   He has taught courses on electron microbeam and X-ray methods since 2004. Prior to joining UMKC, he served on the faculties of the University of South Carolina and the University of Texas at Austin. He received his Ph.D. in Mineralogy from the University of Michigan in 1998.