Space physicist Dr. Hongtao Cai has taken up the post of vice chancellor for government affairs at Duke Kunshan University.
The former associate dean of the School of Electronic Information at Wuhan University succeeds Dr. Xiaolin Chang, who served for a decade as Duke Kunshan’s first vice chancellor for government relations.
Chang, an expert in water conservancy and hydropower, has returned to Wuhan University to focus on scientific research and teaching, leaving behind a significant legacy of contributions to the establishment and growth of DKU.
Welcoming the newest member of the senior leadership team, Duke Kunshan Chancellor Youmei Feng said, “Dr. Cai has rich experience in higher education management and in leveraging government and social resources to promote industry-university-research cooperation and university development.
“His expertise makes him an invaluable addition, and I am confident that he will play a pivotal role in driving the further development of DKU.”
Feng also expressed her gratitude to Chang, emphasizing his important role in the planning, establishment, operation and development of Duke Kunshan.
“Dr. Chang’s decade-long tenure as vice chancellor for government relations has been marked by immense dedication and remarkable contributions,” Feng said.
Mary Frances Luce, DKU’s interim executive vice chancellor, said, “Dr. Chang has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of Duke Kunshan over the past 10 years, and we are very grateful for his many contributions.”
On his successor, Luce added, “Dr. Cai brings extensive experience in higher education administration to DKU, including in government relations and public affairs.
“I look forward to working with Dr. Cai to ensure DKU’s continued success.”
Founded in September 2013 as a joint venture between Duke University, Wuhan University and the city of Kunshan, DKU quickly emerged as a leading international educational institution.
Launching its graduate and undergaduate programs in 2014 and 2018 respectively, Duke Kunshan has achieved early success, evident for example in the 2022 graduation and accomplishments of its inaugural class of bachelor’s degree students.
Cai said he was both thrilled and honored to have joined such a highly regarded university, adding, “DKU’s achievements as a young institution are remarkable.
“I am eager to contribute to the integration of government and social forces in advancing its teaching, scientific research, industry-university-research integration and overall development.”
Cai received his bachelor’s degree in material physics in 1998 and a Ph.D. in space physics in 2003 from Wuhan University.
Prior to his appointment at DKU, he was a professor and doctoral advisor of space physics at Wuhan University, where he also served as academic dean and chair of the Industry-University-Research Committee of Electronic Information School and vice director of Meridian Project Phase II, a ground-based space environment monitoring network.
In addition to administrative roles, Cai has dedicated himself to scientific research, focusing on space-exploring techniques and modeling, magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling, as well as radiowave propagation and its engineering applications.
He has led or participated in over 30 state-level projects, including innovative and key research projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the key research and development plan of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.
His research findings have been applied in various fields and published in esteemed academic journals, including the Journal of Geophysical Research and IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.
Cai is also a council member of the Chinese Society of Space Research and a member of the Sun-Terrestrial Physics Committee and the Space Technology and Operation Committee.
