After obtaining his PhD in theoretical physics from University of Kentucky in 2002, Dr. Chi Zhang carried out his research in computational biology and bioinformatics at SUNY Buffalo and IUPUI from 2002 to 2007 during which he developed structural level protein-protein/DNA interaction prediction methods and discovered novel features of gene co-expression network in mammalian cells and domain graph in Arabidopsis thaliana. Early 2007, Dr. Zhang started working as a Sr. Scientist in protein modeling and bioinformatics in Intrexon, a biotech company that headquarters in Blacksburg, VA. Leaving as the Associate Director of rational design department at Intrexon, Dr. Zhang recently joined the School of Biological Sciences and the Center for Plant Science Innovation as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Zhang’s current research aims at integrating and mining diverse high throughput data to extract biological insights and to address fundamental biological questions that would enhance our understanding of systems as a whole. This will be accomplished by designing statistically rigorous and physically sound models to integrate genome sequences, expression profiles, molecular interactions, and protein structures. His research interests also include Computational Systems Biology; Bioinformatics; interactions between pathogens and plant cells; and gene/protein interaction network in plant cells.

Co-President's: Susan Greni and Mark Bi; Secretary: Kelsey Kumm; Treasurer: Kirstin Sholes; Social Chair: Jessica Jacobsen. The Biology Club’s First Meeting will be Thursday September 10th at 5 p.m. in Manter Hall Room 103.