Yan Zhang, PhD

Principal Investigator

Associate Professor of Biological Chemistry

Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology

B.S.  Peking University

PhD: University of Wisconsin Madison

Email: yzhangbc@med.umich.edu

Yan's bio

Henry Arthur, PhD student of Biological Chemistry

BS: Ohio State University

Email: arthenry@umich.edu

I got my B.S. in Chemistry from Ohio State University, and as a member of the Zhang lab I work on developing new CRISPR therapeutics for treating human genetic disorders. Outside of the lab I love playing soccer in the Ann Arbor Soccer Association (AASA) league and I enjoy watching mockumentaries, like ‘The Office’ and ‘What We Do in the Shadows’.

Xin Li, PhD student of Biological Chemistry

BS: China Pharmaceutical University

MS: China Pharmaceutical University 

Email: xinleee@umich.edu

I earned my B.S. and M.S. in Pharmaceutical Science from China Pharmaceutical University, where I studied the roles of non-coding RNAs and micropeptides in tumors. For my Ph.D., I investigated CRISPR-Cas9 spacer acquisition, and my current focus is the computational discovery and validation of new anti-CRISPRs as well as non-CRISPR defense systems.

Mason Myers, PhD student of Biological Chemistry

BS: Ohio University

Email: masonmy@umich.edu

I earned my B.S. in Chemistry from Ohio University (not OSU!) where I conducted research on riboswitch RNA-ligand drug discovery. I joined the Zhang Lab in 2022. I develop new gene-editing tools from Type I CRISPR-Cas, an abundant and fascinating CRISPR type, and apply the resulting tools towards therapeutic strategies for treating human diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing and watching soccer, tabletop RPGs, video games, and grabbing a coffee at any time.

Tuozhan Wu, Research Lab Technician

BS: China Pharmaceutical University

MS: University of Michigan

Email: tuozhanw@umich.edu

I earned my B.S. from China Pharmaceutical University and an M.S. in  Pharmacology from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. I enjoy purifying and studying CRISPR-Cas enzymes and anti-CRISPR proteins.

Xufei Zhou, PhD, Research Lab Specialist

BS: Anhui Normal University

PhD: University of Science and Technology of China

Email: xufeiz@umich.edu

I obtained my B.S. from Anhui Normal University and a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of Science and Technology of China, where I studied the mechanisms of small RNA biogenesis and regulation in C. elegans. As a postdoctoral researcher in the Zhang Lab, my work focuses on Cas9’s role in maintaining bacterial adaptive immunity homeostasis and on how filamentous phages employ anti-CRISPRs to evade this. 

Outside the lab, I enjoy visiting art museums, exploring natural destinations, and playing Nintendo games — and I’m almost never without a cup of coffee in hand.

Yingchun (Eugene) Liu, Master student of Biological Chemistry

University of Michigan

Lauren Donley

Undergraduate Student

University of Michigan

Tae Kim

Undergraduate Student

University of Michigan

Dylan Parikh

Undergraduate Student

University of Michigan

Zhonggang Hou, PhD

Research Assistant Professor

BS: Peking University

PhD: University of Wisconsin Madison

Email: houzg@umich.edu

I earned my B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Peking University and Ph.D. in Biomolecular Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin Madison. I completed postdoctoral training with Dr. James A. Thomson first at the University of Wisconsin Madison then at the Morgridge Institute for Research, where I studied human pluripotent stem cell biology, reprogramming and differentiation. I also developed new transcriptomic, stem cell, and CRISPR platforms for animal free in vitro toxicity screening.

In 2015, I moved to Boston and established the Stem Cell and Gene Editing Core Facility in the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School. I joined the Zhang lab in 2017 as a Senior Research Specialist, was promoted to Research Investigator in 2020, and to Research Assistant Professor in 2023.