University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · BiologyZhang Lab
Jianzhi Zhang · Ann Arbor, Michigan
Research Focus
The research lab led by Dr. Jianzhi Zhang at the University of Michigan explores how evolutionary processes work at the genetic and molecular levels. By studying various organisms, primarily yeast and mammals, the lab investigates the interactions between genes and the environment and how these interactions influence adaptation and evolution. The ultimate goal is to uncover the principles that govern evolution and relate them to biological systems, which could have implications for understanding human disease.
evolutionary mechanismsgenomicsepistasisenvironmental pleiotropyadaptive processesfitness landscapesmicrobial evolutionlaboratory evolutionmolecular genetics
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of epistasis in evolutionary adaptation.
AIM 02Quantify the distribution of fitness effects of mutations in yeast.
AIM 03Analyze multi-environment fitness landscapes computationally.
AIM 04Develop theories reconciling beneficial mutations with genomic data.
AIM 05Explore gene interactions through experimental measurements of fitness.
Skills the Lab Values
genomic sequencingcomputational modelingexperimental evolution techniquesdata analysis with integrative approachesyeast culture techniquesmolecular cloningfitness measurementcomputer simulationsbioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications405top 12% of dept.120th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations26ktop 15% of dept.150th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.