New Faculty Commencing Sept 1, 2019
Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 2015-2019 (Adam E. Cohen)
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 2010-2015 (Tobias Baumgart)
B.Sc., University of Science and Technology of China, 2006-2010 (Jinlong Yang)
Biography
Zheng Shi obtained his bachelor’s degree at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), majoring in Condensed Matter Physics. Zheng then moved to the US to attend graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, under the guidance of professor Tobias Baumgart. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry studying the mechanisms of membrane remodeling by peripheral proteins and divalent cations. Zheng then joined the group of professor Adam Cohen as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University. In the Cohen lab, Zheng extended his interest in soft materials and lipid membranes to study how mechanical signals propagate in cell membranes. Zheng will start his independent career in Fall 2019 as an assistant professor in the department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University.
Future Research
The Shi lab will focus on developing new microscopy and photochemistry techniques, as well as theoretical models to study membrane related processes at the cellular scale. We aim to understand the mechanisms of mechanosensation at the cell membrane and study how membrane mechanics interact with downstream biochemical signaling pathways. We will also investigate the roles of neuronal membranes in mediating neurological diseases and utilize our understanding of cell membrane mechanics to design efficient and controllable drug delivery strategies. Interested students are encouraged to email Zheng to learn more!
