Dr. Wade Zeno

Biography

Wade Zeno received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2010, where he minored in mathematics and chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology from the University of California, Davis in 2016. His doctoral research focused on the characterization of biomaterials that contain protein-lipid nanodiscs and understanding the control of lipid phase behavior in the presence of highly concentrated proteins. During his studies, Zeno completed an industrial internship at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, where he worked on protein purification and isolation. After completing his Ph.D., he pursued postdoctoral work in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, investigating the role of protein-lipid interactions in membrane traffic. His research emphasizes how cellular membranes serve as critical interfaces for biochemical interactions that regulate cell behavior and function. Membranes, composed of heterogeneous mixtures of lipids and proteins, present challenges in understanding the biomolecular interactions that take place. Zeno’s work leverages engineering principles and fluorescence techniques to develop innovative tools and methods aimed at elucidating the interactions between proteins and lipids in biological membranes.

Research Interests

Awards