The University Faculty Scholars Program recognizes outstanding mid-career faculty who are on an accelerated path for academic distinction. Faculty must hold the rank of tenured associate or full professor and have been in that rank for no more than five years. Faculty Scholars are appointed for a five-year term and receive an annual $10,000 discretionary allocation.

Kejie Zhao is a professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering. His research group focuses on mechanics and material chemistry using experimentation and multi-scale modeling, especially in battery mechanics and organic electrochromics.