Jason Zhang is an Assistant Professor at UCLA Bioengineering with expertise in designing and applying de novo protein tools to understand and manipulate cellular signaling. He attended UC Berkeley for undergrad majoring in Bioengineering. He received his PhD also in Bioengineering at UCSD in Jin Zhang’s lab where he built new genetically encodable biosensors to reveal new mechanisms by which signaling molecules are organized. As a postdoc in David Baker’s lab at the University of Washington, he develops AI-guided protein tools to map, manipulate, and therapeutically correct disrupted biochemical networks in diseases like cancer. His work integrates computational design and molecular biology to create biosensors, selective binders, and protein-based modulators that reveal and reprogram cellular signaling. Passionate about mentoring the next generation of students and promoting diverse and equitable learning environments, Jason views the growth of young scientists as one of the most important goals in academia and is excited to foster such environments both in the classroom and in research labs.