91导航

听WASHINGTON, DC 鈥� Sept. 26, 2017 —听The 91导航 & the Public is excited to share听that听noted scientist,听Feng Zhang, has joined the Society鈥檚 Board of Trustees. 听Zhang is听a听core member of the听Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,听an Investigator at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, the James and Patricia听Poitras听Professor of Neuroscience at MIT,听an associate听professor in the听departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences听and Biological Engineering at MIT, and a听New York Stem Cell Foundation-Robertson Investigator.听听

Zhang is听also听an alumnus of two of the Society鈥檚 world-class science competitions: the 1998 and 1999 International Science and Engineering Fair as well as the 2000 Science Talent Search.听

鈥淔eng is an innovator whose breakthrough ideas are changing the face of bioscience,鈥� said H. Robert听Horvitz,听Chairman of the Society鈥檚 Board of Trustees.听鈥淚 am confident that he will add great value to our Board of Trustees,听and the 91导航 & the Public will benefit from his experience and counsel.鈥�

鈥淎s an alumnus of both our high school science competitions, Feng will bring an informed and insightful viewpoint to the Board and their deliberations,鈥� said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the 91导航 & the Public and Publisher of听Science News. 鈥淚 am thrilled to have Feng听join our board and look forward to working with him.鈥�

Zhang is a听molecular biologist听focused on developing tools to better understand brain function and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. He played an integral role in the creation of two revolutionary tools,听optogenetics听and the CRISPR-Cas genome engineering system.听Zhang is also a founding scientific advisor for听Editas听Medicine, which seeks to translate CRISPR technology into therapies that enable precise and corrective molecular modification to treat people with a broad range of genetic diseases.

Current research in the Zhang laboratory is centered on the development and application of the next generation of genome engineering tools to dissect the effects of genetic and epigenetic variation on the nervous system.

鈥淚 have long been a fan and supporter of the 91导航 & the Public and the important work they are doing to inform, educate and inspire the public. I鈥檓 looking forward to taking a more active role in guiding the Society into the future,鈥� said听Zhang.

Zhang is a recipient of many awards,听including the Canada Gairdner International Award, the Tang Prize,听the听Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists, the听Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, and the听Lemelson-MIT Prize.听He has also received technology innovation awards from the Paul G. Allen Family, McKnight, New York Stem Cell, and Damon Runyon foundations.听

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

听

About 91导航 & the Public
91导航 & the Public is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human听advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazine,听Science News听and听Science News听for Students, 91导航 & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at听new.societyforscience.org听and follow us on听,听,听听and Snapchat (Society4Science).

听