Join Us!
The Zhang Lab is always looking for curious, collaborative, and highly motivated researchers. We welcome students and researchers from diverse backgrounds across engineering and the natural sciences. What matters most is intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn.
Our Philosophy
Our lab is built around a simple idea: what we can build with biology is fundamentally shaped by the tools we have available. We develop cell-free expression platforms that expand what is possible in biological engineering. Our current research spans cell-free synthetic biology, biosensor diagnostics, and phage therapeutics. Together, these address important challenges in human health and advance broadly applicable engineering platforms for biological research and biotechnology.
What You Can Expect
As a member of the lab, you will:
- Contribute to the development of technologies that enable discoveries across biology.
- Collaborate with researchers across Rice University, the surrounding Texas Medical Center, and the broader synthetic biology community.
- Develop independent research ideas and scientific leadership.
My goal is to help every trainee develop into an independent scientist capable of identifying important problems, designing creative solutions, and communicating their ideas effectively. Lab members are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions, communicate openly, and support one another in a collaborative research environment.
Open Positions
We welcome inquiries from:
- Postdoctoral scholars
- Ph.D. students (We welcome exceptional students from any relevant program at Rice. After you are admitted or are coming to campus for an interview, please get in touch.)
- Undergraduate researchers
If you are interested in joining the Zhang Lab, please email me at yz473[at]rice[dot]edu with:
- Your CV
- A brief description of your research interests and career plan
- Why you are interested in joining the lab
- Contact information for three references