Yan Zhang

Assistant Professor, Rice University

Dr. Yan Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University. Her laboratory develops cell-free gene expression systems that enable the rapid design, construction, and screening of biological parts and systems. By integrating synthetic biology, systems-level characterization, and molecular engineering, the Zhang Lab develops foundational technologies to engineer complex biological functions outside living cells, with applications in human health, agriculture, and distributed biomanufacturing. Current research areas include host-independent bacteriophage engineering and the development of programmable biological systems for therapeutic and agricultural applications.

Prior to joining Rice, Dr. Zhang received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She completed her postdoctoral training in the laboratories of Richard Murray and William Clemons at the California Institute of Technology, where she developed cell-free platforms for biological design and bacteriophage engineering. Her work was supported by the NIH MOSAIC K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. At Rice, her research program is supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) New Faculty Recruitment Award, which supports the development of next-generation biological technologies for cancer prevention and treatment.