Deborah Chung

Deborah Duen Ling Chung (professionally known as D.D.L. Chung, Chinese: 鍾端玲 or 黛博拉 • D • L • 钟) is an American scientist and university professor.

Chung was born and raised in Hong Kong. Her mother was Rebecca Chan Chung (United States World War II veteran with the Flying Tigers and the United States Army in China), whose mother was Lee Sun Chau (one of the first female doctors of Western Medicine in China).

Chung studied at Ying Wa Girls' School and King's College (Hong Kong). She moved to the United States in 1970 and received a B.S. degree in Engineering and Applied Science and an M.S. degree in Engineering Science from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1973. At Caltech, she conducted research under the supervision of Pol Duwez. She, Sharon R. Long, Flora Wu and Stephanie Charles are the four first women to receive B.S. degrees from California Institute of Technology.

Chung received a Ph.D. degree in materials science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. Her thesis, which was on graphite intercalation compounds, was supervised by Mildred S. Dresselhaus.

In 1977, Chung joined the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University, where she taught materials science and electrical engineering.

In 1986, she joined the faculty of University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, where she directs the Composite Materials Research Laboratory and was named Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Endowed Chair Professor in 1991. She is currently SUNY Distinguished Professor, with SUNY in the title referring to The State University of New York. This is the highest faculty rank in SUNY.

In 1991, Chung became Fellow of the American Carbon Society. In 1998, she became Fellow of ASM International (society). She received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities from State University of New York in 2003 and was named Outstanding Inventor by State University of New York in 2002. In 1993, she was honored as "Teacher of the Year" by Tau Beta Pi (New York Nu). Chung was the first American woman and the first person of Chinese descent to receive the Charles E. Pettinos Award, in 2004; the award was in recognition of her work on functional carbons for thermal, electromagnetic and sensor applications. In 2005, she received the Hsun Lee Lecture Award from Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2011, she received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain. In 2023, Chung was elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in recognition of her significant contributions in engineering and technology. In 2024, Chung received the President's Medal from University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, in recognition of extraordinary service to the university. Chung also received a U.S. Special Congressional Recognition. In 2025, Chung received Caltech's Distinguished Alumni Award. In addition, Chung received the Robert Lansing Hardy Gold Medal from the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) in 1980.

The main theme of Chung's research is composite materials, with emphasis on multifunctional structural materials, materials for thermal management and electronic packaging, materials for electromagnetic interference shielding, structural materials for vibration damping, and structural materials for thermoelectricity. Chung invented "smart concrete" (concrete that can sense its own condition), nickel nanofiber (also known as nickel filament, for electromagnetic interference shielding) and conformable thermal paste (for improving thermal contacts, with applications in microelectronic cooling). Chung is highly productive in scientific research, with research funding provided mainly by the Federal government of the United States.