Professor Daniel Hallinan Jr. at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida. (Scott Holstein/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering)
Daniel Hallinan, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has been named the department’s first Teng Ma Endowed Professor.
The appointment recognizes his contributions to research, education and leadership—and carries personal significance: Hallinan was mentored by Professor Teng Ma himself.
Key points
- Daniel Hallinan, a Florida State University professor, has been appointed the inaugural Teng Ma Endowed Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
- The professorship honors Teng Ma, a pioneering researcher and former department chair who built the college’s biomedical engineering program.
- Hallinan’s research spans advanced materials, polymer science and energy storage; his students have earned national awards and gone on to careers in the field.
- The appointment recognizes Hallinan’s contributions to research, teaching and leadership across the department, college and broader engineering community.
Hallinan’s Research and Mentorship
Hallinan’s research spans advanced materials, polymer science and energy storage, contributing to numerous high-impact publications and patents. He is also recognized for mentorship that has produced students earning national awards and careers in the field.
“Professor Hallinan is an outstanding choice for this award,” said Bruce R. Locke, chair and distinguished research professor of chemical and biomedical engineering. “He was mentored by Professor Ma and he has brought the same passion for excellence in engineering education and research. Professor Hallinan has not only received national awards for his own work, but he has also inspired and directed his own students who have won major awards, published outstanding research, and gone on to careers in the field.”
How does this appointment support Hallinan’s work going forward?
As the inaugural Teng Ma Endowed Professor, Hallinan will have additional resources to pursue research, foster interdisciplinary collaborations and support student development initiatives at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
About the Teng Ma Endowed Professorship
The Teng Ma Endowed Professorship was established to honor Teng Ma, who joined the college in 2000 as its first faculty member hired specifically to focus on tissue engineering. Ma directed research in cellular and biomechanical processes, rose to become a leader in the field and served as department chair—a role in which he laid the groundwork for the undergraduate biomedical engineering degree program.
“Professor Ma was instrumental in developing the biomedical engineering program in our department,” Locke said. “He was a leader in the field of tissue engineering and brought this passion to the education of our students. He was key to establishing the undergraduate biomedical engineering degree program. Planning for this program started under his leadership while he was department chair and he would be delighted at the success of the program in terms of quality and quantity of our students and the outstanding faculty we have been able to attract.”
The endowment supports faculty members who exemplify the values and vision Ma championed throughout his career.
What is the significance of this endowed professorship for the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering?
Endowed professorships provide sustained support for faculty research, enabling recipients to pursue projects, build interdisciplinary collaborations and invest in student development beyond standard department resources. This is the first professorship established in Teng Ma’s name, connecting future scholarship directly to his legacy in the department.
A Lasting Tribute
The Teng Ma Endowed Professorship is a permanent tribute to Ma’s impact on the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. In naming Hallinan as its first recipient, the department honors both an individual faculty member and the continuity of mentorship and scholarship that defined Ma’s tenure.
For more on Professor Teng Ma, visit eng.famu.fsu.edu/news/teng-ma-passing. To contribute to this lasting legacy, visit the endowment page: https://give.fsu.edu/tengma.
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