An appointment ceremony for Jan Dean Miller is held at Shanxi University on Jan 11. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

Jan Dean Miller from the University of Utah in the United States, a winner of the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award of China in 2018, was appointed as a distinguished professor of Shanxi University (SXU) on Jan 11.

Born in April 1942, Miller is an American engineer specializing in metallurgy and mineral processing. He is currently employed as a distinguished professor of metallurgical engineering and Ivor D. Thomas Endowed Chair at the University of Utah.

Miller has longstanding links to SXU. He has worked with one of the university's research groups led by Vice-president Cheng Fangqin on soluble salt flotation and low-grade mineral resources, examining how best to use and cultivate them, while at the same time controlling pollution.

The partnership has involved being part of two international joint projects and several provincial projects.

Jan Dean Miller (left) receives a letter of appointment from Huang Guitian, president of Shanxi University, at the ceremony, Jan 11. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

Huang Guitian, president of Shanxi University, delivered the letter of appointment to Miller at the ceremony, expressing a warm welcome and gratitude to the academic on behalf of SXU.

I am extremely grateful to the university, and I plan to use my appointment to increase technological cooperation and training programs between institutes in China and the US, as well as develop related disciplines, said Miller.

Cheng Fangqin, vice-president of SXU, outlined details of the partnership between the university and University of Utah at the ceremony. The number of faculty members and students taking part in exchange visits between the two has now reached 40, and the two sides have jointly trained five teachers and three doctoral students since 2007.