Welcome to the Zhang Lab for Cell-Free Synthetic Biology

The Zhang Lab at Rice Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering builds cell-free synthetic biology platforms to expand our ability to engineer biological systems beyond the constraints set by living cells. Our research integrates platform innovations with application-driven biotechnology development, where advances in each inform and enable the other. Our initial research program focuses on human health applications.

Cell-free platform innovation and application-driven biodesign feedback loop

Active Projects

Establishing a Cell-Free Synthetic Biology Platform to Detect, Eliminate, and Reprogram Oncogenic Bacteria in Colorectal Cancer

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), Recruitment of First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members

An Adaptive Framework to Synthesize and Reconfigure Bacterial Viruses (Phages) to Counter Antibiotic Resistance

NIH MOSAIC Pathway to Independence Career Transition Award (K99/R00)

Join Us

Interested in joining the lab? See our open positions.