Dennis Zhang

Dennis Zhang graduated from Columbia College in 2024 as a biology major and early inductee of Phi Beta Kappa, who pursued extensive scholarship and service centered around genetics and rare diseases.

As an interdisciplinary researcher, he developed novel genetic technologies at the Sternberg lab while contemplating related bioethical issues at the Columbia Division of Ethics. His work culminated in several patent applications and publications, including a co-second-author piece featured on the cover of Science.

To engage the public on these technologies, he led several genetics outreach initiatives for underserved NYC youth through the Research Cluster on Science & Subjectivity. These ranged from a molecular biology lab course to a discussion-based ethics seminar, reaching over a hundred students.

To contextualize and inspire his work, he supported rare genetic disease patients throughout college. As the president of a mentorship program for teens with sickle cell anemia, he worked with passionate peers to build a sickle cell advocacy comic book that has been shared with over 10 hospitals. As the lone post-pandemic volunteer at a hospice center for terminally ill Huntington's disease patients, he revived the At Your Service volunteering program and documented patient life stories in physical books left by their bedsides.

Since graduating, Dennis has been conducting gene editing research at the University of Copenhagen as a US-Denmark Fulbright scholar, with long-term aspirations of becoming a physician-scientist. In his free time, he is a kombucha aficionado, plays guitar, and is likely marathon training—clocking miles by any means necessary—as a member of the NORD Running for Rare team.