Feng Zhang

Molecular biologist Feng Zhang focuses on developing multiple, revolutionary technologies that are being used around the world to advance the study, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. He played an integral part in the development of optogenetics, pioneered the use of CRISPR systems for genome editing, and discovered a number of other natural systems, many of which he and his team harnessed for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This work is complemented by his work to develop novel delivery modalities for genetic therapeutics.

Dr. Zhang is a core member of the Broad Institute, an Investigator at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, the James and Patricia Poitras Professor of Neuroscience at MIT, and a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Zhang received an A.B. in chemistry and physics from Harvard College and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford University.