Assistant Professor

After getting his undergraduate degree in Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Zhang moved to the United States in 2008 for his Ph.D. training. In 2014, he joined the Matthew Waldor lab at Harvard Medical School, where he explored a broad range of host-pathogen interactions. Dr. Zhang developed a strong interest in understanding the role of metabolites in regulating host defense. He joined the WashU community in 2024.

Dr. Zhang grew up on a small fishing island near Shanghai. He always finds a deep connection to the captivating atmosphere of the sea. Beyond his professional life, Dr. Zhang finds joy in reading, gardening, and jogging.

Postdoc

Dylan is from St. Louis and did his Undegraduate Training at Saint Louis University. He did his PhD in Computational Biology in the lab of Megan Baldridge at Washington University in St. Louis. Dylan's research background has focused on studying the microbiota and understanding the genetics of novel bacteria and bacteriophages both computational and in the lab. 

Research Technician

Philip completed his bachelor’s degree in Biology at Pomona College in Claremont, California. He is interested in studying ecological genomics and genetics. Prior to joining the Zhang lab, he has investigated research topics ranging from eelgrass genetics to avian bioacoustic monitoring. Philip enjoys hiking and reading in his free time.

Postdoc

Yungui is from Shandong and completed his Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology at Dalian Medical University. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry in the lab of Erika Geisbrecht at Kansas State University. Yungui's research focuses on understanding host and pathogen genetic determinants that shape the outcomes of host-pathogen interactions.

Undergraduate researcher

Monica Wang, Technician

Diego Orellana, Rotation student 2025