Mengwen Zhang

• A versatile chemical biologist/biochemist/cell biologist looking to solve challenging problems in drug discovery/biotechnology development
• Extensive multidisciplinary research experience and a track record of high-quality publications
• Work well independently as well as in teams
• Self-motivated and quick learner of new knowledge and techniques

Yale University, Hochstrasser Lab Graduate Researcher, New Haven, CT                                  Nov 2017 – Apr 2022

• Developed a novel protein-based affinity reagent to study protein ubiquitylation
  • Developed and optimized protocols to use the affinity reagent in different circumstances
  • Designed proof-of-concept experiments to test the reagent in human cells and budding yeast
  • Analyzed large sets of proteomics data to survey the budding yeast and human ubiquitylated proteome
  • Published a research article on the methodology and applied for a patent as one of the inventors
• Investigated the roles of two coiled coil proteins on human proteasome assembly
  • Used siRNA and shRNA to induce transient and stable knockdown of the proteins of interest in different human cell lines and studied proteasome assembly in these cells
  • Studied the physical interaction between the proteins and different proteasomal subunits in vitro
• Collaborated with an international lab and obtained insights on the mechanism of bacteria induced reproduction manipulation in insect hosts
  • Rapidly learned Drosophila handling techniques and completed important Drosophila mating experiments 
  • Managed and maintained the transgenic Drosophila inventory for the lab
  • Communicated experimental and editorial suggestions to collaborators and published a research article as a co-first author
• Contributed to multiple other projects, resulting in the publication of three research articles as a coauthor
• Mentored a postdoctoral fellow and an undergraduate student

Yale University, Spiegel Lab Graduate Researcher, New Haven, CT     Jan 2015 – Oct 2017

• Pioneered the development of a bifunctional small molecule platform MoDE-A, which acts as a molecular glue to target hepatocyte-mediated degradation of disease inducing extracellular proteins
• Researched scientific and medical literature extensively to select target proteins
• Designed and synthesized multiple bifunctional small molecules to target different proteins
• Developed a series of cell-based assays to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of the molecules
• Analyzed mouse serum samples collected from in vivo experiments
• Co-authored a research article and applied for a patent as one of the inventors; initialized investigations that led to four other patent applications by the lab
• Synthesized a tri-functional molecule and tested its performance as an immunomodulator in multiple primary and immortalized immune cell-based assays
• Mentored several graduate students and an undergraduate student

Yale University, New Haven, CT                                                                                                                 May, 2022

Ph.D., Chemistry                                                                                                                                                          

Selected Courses: Chemical Biology (I, II), Molecular Cell Biology, Principles of Pharmacology, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Advanced Synthetic Methods, Advanced Eukaryotic Molecular Biology (audit)