CRS Scientist Spotlight on Jennifer Zhu

Name: Jennifer Zhu

Position: BME PhD Graduate Student

Mentor: Dr. Evan Scott, PhD

Thesis: Immune modulation treatments and vaccines using PEG-b-PPS self-assembling nanocarriers

What brought you to join the CRS community and what is your current position?

I am currently a PhD candidate in the biomedical engineering department. When my mentor saw the T32 training grant, he thought it was a great opportunity to expand upon our lab’s nanoparticles to new applications and provide one of his students a chance to grow in collaboration building, grant writing, and project initiation, among other things. He asked me to brainstorm possible projects at the intersection of nanotechnology and reproductive science, which brought me to the CRS community.

Could you describe your research?

I have two main projects that I am working on for my PhD. Within the realm of reproductive sciences, I aim to develop a mouse model that will allow for in vivo monitoring of endometriosis lesion growth. Using this mouse model and anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic drugs loaded into PEG-b-PPS self assembling nanocarriers, I plan to test different treatment avenues for reducing endometriosis lesion size. My other project utilizes similar nanocarriers that can hold both hydrophilic and lipophilic cargo to create a vaccine for tuberculosis. 

What aspect(s) of CRS do you find most valuable?
The CRS program offers a wide variety of possible carriers covered by the career catalyst seminar series. Compared to other similar series hosted by other departments or schools, CRS works hard to expand upon the classic post graduate tracks to provide us with other options, which has informed my choices in possible ways forward.

What has been the most valuable aspect to your training as a reproductive scientist?

As I was not traditionally trained in reproductive sciences before joining the CRS program, I have found that one of the most valuable trainings for me is how to collaborate with different labs and scientists. While classes provide a very necessary basis in reproductive sciences, learning to incorporate my work with others to make an interdisciplinary project brings together strengths from multiple facets of both bioengineering and reproductive sciences. CRS has also provided access to a collaboration masterclass that has aided me in this work.

What is one piece of advice you would give to young scientists starting in their journey in science?

Science is an incredibly expansive field of study. I have found that anyone, even those who chose different paths outside of science, can find something of interest to them. As you move along in your journey in science, consider branching out and taking classes, reading, or conducting experiments (at lab or at home) in a variety of different areas, you never know what new things will pique your interest that can spark a lifelong curiosity.

What do you think will be the next big contribution in the reproductive biology field?

As we move forward with genotyping and better understanding of disease conditions, I believe that personalized medicine will be incredibly important. Similar to how we categorize breast cancer types, more headway has been made to understand how other cancers and diseases can be typed to enhance precision in future treatments.

What hobbies do you have outside of the lab?

I have kept plants and baked for a long time, which has only increased during the quarantine. I’ve had to take a break from rock climbing and traveling for the time being, but I hope to get back to these as vaccines are rolled out across the world.