Obituary: Hao Fong

Hao Fong, 55, of Rapid City, South Dakota, died May 19, 2025.

“Hao was a pioneer in electrospinning, with his PhD work at the University of Akron revitalizing interest in the technique across disciplines. After research roles at the US Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, he spent nearly two decades at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (2003–2022), publishing 155 papers and earning nine US patents. He mentored numerous graduate students, leaving a lasting impact on their careers. Hao was a generous colleague, skilled badminton player, and loyal friend. He was also a dedicated supporter of the university’s Chinese student and scholar community.”—Zhengtao Zhu, colleague and friend

Most recent title: Professor, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Education: BS, polymer chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 1993; PhD, polymer science, University of Akron, 1999

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