University College is delighted to announce that Professor Peijun Zhang, Supernumerary Fellow at Univ, Professor of Structural Biology in the University of Oxford’s Division of Structural Biology (NDM) and founding director of the Electron Bio-Imaging Centre at Diamond Light Source, has been elected as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).

EMBO membership is a prestigious recognition, awarded to life scientists who have made outstanding contributions to their field. Professor Zhang joins an esteemed group of scientists who have advanced research in areas ranging from infectious diseases and cellular signalling networks to brain biology and environmental adaptations. Her expertise in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has revolutionised our understanding of molecular structures and processes, particularly in the context of structural biology.

Professor Zhang holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Solid State Physics from Nanjing University, as well as a PhD in Biophysics and Physiology from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining the University of Oxford and Diamond Light Source in 2016, she held positions as a postdoctoral fellow and staff scientist at the National Cancer Institute, NIH, and later as a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Upon receiving this honour, Professor Zhang remarked: “I am honoured to be elected EMBO member. I look forward to becoming part of such an incredible group of scientists and contributing to EMBO’s goal to further strengthen European science.” Fiona Watt, EMBO Director, added: “The new EMBO Members have made immense contributions to fundamental life science research, many of which have paved the way for innovations that improve lives globally.”

Professor Zhang and the newly elected EMBO members will be officially welcomed at the EMBO community meeting in Heidelberg, Germany, from 29 October to 1 November 2024.

Published: 24 October 2024

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