Dr. Jenny Zhang

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Jenny Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on developing smart bio-hybrid approaches to probe and re-wire bioenergetics in living systems. She aims to create platforms that launch new biotechnologies to address a range of societal needs, including renewable energy generation, carbon recycling, precision farming, environmental sensing, and treating pathogenic biofilms. Her current work emphasizes understanding how to re-wire photosynthesis for sustainable energy conversion. Zhang's research operates at the intersection of physics, synthetic biology, chemical biology, engineering, and material science, particularly involving electrochemistry. She completed her PhD in bioinorganic chemistry at the University of Sydney, Australia, and has worked at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She was awarded the Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship at the University of Cambridge to explore the generation of solar fuels using biocatalysts and developed strategies to re-wire complex enzymes. Zhang has received numerous accolades, including the BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship, the RSC Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal, and the L'Oreal UNESCO Sustainable Development Award for Women in Science. She also won the Outstanding Supervisor Award in 2024.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

2018-01-01 — Present

Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry • Cambridge, England

Member of the research faculty focusing on bio-hybrid approaches to energy conversion.

Awards

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Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship

2016-01-01
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BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship

2017-01-01
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RSC Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal

2020-01-01
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L'Oreal UNESCO Sustainable Development Award

2021-01-01
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Outstanding Supervisor Award

2024-01-01

Requirements for University of Cambridge

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Reading
Required:25
Writing
Required:25
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:110
Prerequisites
UK Bachelor's Degree with good Upper Second Class Honours or international equivalent Background in international relations, politics, law, economics, security or history is a definite asset
Application Checklist
  • Two academic references
  • Official transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Personal statement (approx 500 words)
  • Research proposal (1-2 pages/500 words)
  • Application fee (£50)
Specialization Notes

Standard postgraduate requirements for Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) and related humanities departments.