Feng Zhang

Feng Zhang is a core institute member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, an investigator at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, and the James and Patricia Poitras Professor in Neuroscience at MIT.

Dr. Zhang is a bioengineer developing and applying novel molecular technologies for studying the molecular and genetic basis of diseases and providing treatment. He played a seminal role in developing optogenetics, a powerful technology for dissecting neural circuits using light. Since joining the Broad and McGovern institutes in January 2011, Dr. Zhang has pioneered the development of genome editing tools for use in eukaryotic cells – including human cells – from natural microbial CRISPR systems. He is a recipient of many awards including the Perl/UNC Prize in Neuroscience, the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, the National Science Foundation’s Alan T. Waterman Award, the Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award in Biotechnology and Medicine, the Society for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award, the Canada Gairdner International Award, and the Tang Prize. He has also received technology innovation awards from the McKnight, New York Stem Cell, and Damon Runyon foundations.

Dr. Zhang has co-founded and continues to advise multiple biotechnology companies, including Editas Medicine, Beam Therapeutics, Pairwise Plants and Sherlock Biosciences.

Dr. Zhang received his A.B. in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard College and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University.