The Tian Research Group

 

Principal Investigator

Bozhi Tian (田博之)

Bozhi Tian (田博之)

Professor

Dr. Tian received his Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry from Harvard University in 2010. With a desire to broaden his knowledge in biomedical sciences, Dr. Tian completed a postdoctoral program at both MIT and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Tian is now a professor in the physical chemistry division. His current research focuses on semiconductor-enabled fundamental understanding of subcellular biophysics, the studies of dynamics at the soft-hard interfaces, and nature-inspired systems for translational medicine. He has benefited greatly from working with a remarkable group of dedicated scientists, engineers, and medical doctors. His goal at the University of Chicago is to convey to his students and postdocs the same passion, drive, insight, and work ethic that his mentors instilled in him. 

Dr. Tian’s accolades during his independent career include the Raymond and Beverly Sackler International Prize in the Physical Sciences (Physical Chemistry for Biomedical Sciences, 2022), the runner-up of Science & PINS Prize for neuromodulation (2019), inaugural ETH Materials Research Prize for Young Investigators (2017), C&EN’s Talented 12 (2017), Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2016), NIH new innovator award (2016), ONR young investigator award (2016), Sloan fellowship (2016), ONR director of research early career award (2015), AFOSR young investigator award (2015), Kavli fellow (2015), NSF CAREER award (2013), Searle Scholar award (2013), and TR35 honoree (2012). Dr. Tian is an elected AIMBE fellow (2024).

Dr. Tian received the 2023 Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentoring from the University of Chicago in recognition of his dedicated efforts in teaching and mentoring. In addition to mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, Dr. Tian has also worked with numerous undergraduate and high school students. The young scientists from the Tian lab have become a Barry Goldwater Scholar, a Stamps Scholar, a Beckman Scholar, an Astronaut Scholar, multiple Science Talent Search (STS) semi-finalists and one STS finalist, and an International Chemistry Olympiad gold medalist.

Dr. Tian is an Associate Editor at ACS Nano, where he handles areas such as biotechnology, biophysics, and biointerfaces. Dr. Tian also serves on the Board of Campus and Student Life at the University of Chicago.

Outside of the lab, Dr. Tian enjoys various forms of art

Email: btian@uchicago.edu

 

Research Staff

 

Jiping Yue

Jiping Yue

Senior scientist

Dr. Jiping Yue is a research scientist specialized in biomedical engineering research. He graduated from Tsinghua University and Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Jiping then worked at the World Health Organization (WHO) before joining the University of Chicago. He has years of interdisciplinary experience with molecular & cellular biology, clinical research, and virology. At UChicago, Jiping has received the National PKU Alliance’s Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award, and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) award from the Hope Fund.

Email: jipingyue@uchicago.edu

Jing Zhang

Jing Zhang

Postdoctoral scholar

Jing Zhang joined Prof. Bozhi Tian’s group as a postdoctoral scholar at the James Franck Institute, the University of Chicago in 2021. She received her B.S. (2014) in East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) and she earned a Ph.D. (2020) at Peking University, where her research focused on soft electrode arrays for stable electrical and optoelectronic neural interfaces. She is currently working on high-resolution neuron modulation through biocompatible semiconductors. (Click my profile for a self-introductory video)

Email: jingzhang1209@uchicago.edu

Chuanwang Yang

Chuanwang Yang

Postdoctoral scholar

Chuanwang Yang finished his graduate degree in environmental sciences from USTC in 2021. In his prior research, he focused on nanomaterial design for spectroscopic determination of nanotoxicity in the environment. From 2019 to 2020, Chuanwang joined the Tian lab as a joint student, where he worked on biointerfaces for biological modulation and hydrogel-based bioelectronics. He is currently back to the Tian lab as a postdoc scholar and is working on tissue-like bioelectronics and robotics. Outside of the lab, Chuanwang is a professional photographer. (Click my profile for a self-introductory video)

Email: chuanwangyang@uchicago.edu

Jingcheng Ma

Jingcheng Ma

Postdoctoral scholar

Jingcheng Ma joined the Tian Lab as a postdoctoral scholar in June 2022. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jingcheng’s research focuses on understanding and exploiting interesting surface phenomena of soft materials. Jingcheng is the awardee of the 2020 PPG-MRL Graduate Research Fellowship, the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Students Abroad, and the 2022 UIUC Stanley I. Weiss Outstanding Dissertation Award.

Email: jcma36@uchicago.edu

Tiantian Guo

Tiantian Guo

Postdoctoral scholar

Tiantian Guo started as a postdoc in Dr. Tian’s lab in January 2023, after receiving her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. Her doctoral research was dedicated to the development of innovative methods for the characterization of sensory afferents in the colorectum, with the goal of improving pain management strategies for patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In her current role at the Tian lab, Tiantian is focusing her efforts on the field of biomineralization-enabled biointerfaces and bioelectronics. 

Email: guot@uchicago.edu

Ananth Kamath

Ananth Kamath

Postdoctoral scholar

Ananth Kamath finished his PhD in the Guyot-Sionnest group at UChicago in August 2023, where he studied nonradiative relaxation processes in infrared quantum dots. After his PhD, Ananth will pivot to bioengineering and neuroscience to develop methods for noninvasively stimulating and recording from cells in-vivo. Ananth is working in the Tian group as a temporary postdoc, to study the mechanism of plasmonic photosensing, and learn biology skills before moving to his next postdoc. Outside lab, Ananth loves cooking, growing plants, and singing Indian classical music.

Email: ananthkamath@uchicago.edu

 

Graduate Students

 

Jiuyun Shi

Jiuyun Shi

Graduate student

Jiuyun Shi received his B.S. degree in Qiushi Honors Program of Chemistry from Zhejiang University in 2018. As an undergraduate research assistant, he worked in Prof. Robert Langer’s group at MIT. At that time, he mainly focused on the research about temperature-triggered polymeric devices for long-term drug delivery. Currently, he is a graduate student in Tian’s lab pursuing his Ph.D. in Chemistry. His research has been focused on tissue-like materials for bioelectronics and robotics, and other aspects of translational medicine. He is also developing living materials together with Dr. Yiliang Lin and Dr. Jiping Yue. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and traveling. Jiuyun has won twice the Eugene Olshansky Memorial Research Fellow.

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Email: sjiuyun@uchicago.edu

Pengju Li

Pengju Li

Graduate student

Pengju Li received his B. Eng. in Materials Science & Engineering from National University of Singapore before he joined the graduate program in PME at the University of Chicago in 2020. Prior to PME he focused on skin-like sensortronics for robotics and human-machine interfaces in Prof. Benjamin Tee’s group. Pengju works on neuromorphic electrochemical and photoelectrochemical systems for biosensing and biomodulation. He was awarded the PME graduate fellowship upon admission and later received the Harper Dissertation Fellowship in his third year of Ph.D. studies. Additionally, he won the Grier Prize for Innovative Research in Biophysical Science. Pengju’s work embodies the fusion of artistic creativity and scientific rigor. One of his microscopic photographs has won 2nd place at UChicago Science as Art Contest 2023. More can be found on his Instagram account @nanoscale_. Outside lab, he is a violinist, table tennis player, and an avid angler.

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Email: pengju@uchicago.edu

Changxu Sun

Changxu Sun

Graduate student

Changxu received a B.S. degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a minor in Mathematics from Rice University with Magna Cum Laude. During his undergraduate studies, he worked with Prof. Rafael Verduzco on developing flexible organic photovoltaics. Currently, his research is dedicated to developing plant-derived hydrogels tailored for healthcare applications. Additionally, he has a passion for sports, including tennis, rock climbing, and swimming.

Email: changxu@uchicago.edu

Wen Li

Wen Li

Graduate student

Wen Li received his B. S. in Chemistry from Nanjing University, and he joined the UChicago chemistry graduate program in 2021. In his undergraduate study, he researched on functional polymeric material based on coordination bonds. During his four-year study at Nanjing University, he developed an interest to combine software programming and hardware engineering in order to achieve the practical application of new materials. In his free time, you can find him exercising in the gym with Pengju. Wen also enjoy cycling, playing table tennis and cooking.

Email: wenli@uchicago.edu

Zhe Cheng

Zhe Cheng

Graduate student

Zhe Cheng received his B.S. in Chemistry from Nanjing University. During his undergraduate studies, he focused on investigating the photophysical properties of carborane-based compounds and developing new luminescent materials in Prof Hong Yan’s lab. Before he joined the UChicago Chemistry graduate program, he took a gap year as a research assistant in Prof. Chao Wang’s group at Tsinghua University working on ionotronics materials synthesis and soft robotics fabrications. His research experience made him excited about tackling problems by combining his skills in both chemistry and engineering. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing badminton, basketball, and watching movies.

Email: zhecheng@uchicago.edu

Saehyun Kim

Saehyun Kim

Graduate student

Saehyun Kim received B.S (Hons) in Chemistry from the National University of Singapore and joined PhD program in Chemistry at the University of Chicago in 2021. During his undergraduate, he worked on microbial biohybrid systems for solar fuel synthesis under the Reisner Group at the University of Cambridge. Under Prof. Boon Siang Yeo, his final year project focused on the electrochemical reduction of glycerol into bio-based feedstock. Saehyun seeks to merge his unique background in electrocatalysis, sustainable & green chemistry with the field of bioelectronics to produce innovative research. In his free time, he is an avid fingerstyle guitarist, a street musician, and a YouTube music creator. He loves watching films, exercising, cooking, and traveling.

Email: saehyun@uchicago.edu

Vanessa Tian

Vanessa Tian

Graduate student

Vanessa Tian is a graduate student from Canada who hopes to one day obtain a Ph.D. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from UC San Diego where she studied the role of aromatic structures in long range electron transfer under Dr. Judy Kim. She is a big fan of public transportation, clean laundry, doing yoga, and long road trips. 

Email: vtian@uchicago.edu

Megan Laune

Megan Laune

Graduate student

Megan received her B. S. in Biochemistry with honors from Indiana University in 2022, and is pursuing a Ph. D in chemistry. During her undergraduate studies in Dr. Yan Yu’s Lab, she focused on the fusion interactions of cationic liposomes with gram-negative bacteria and the correlating antibacterial properties to address antibiotic resistant infections. Outside of the lab, she enjoys oil painting, watching TV (especially animated sitcoms), and taking walks with her dog, Frankie.

Email: mlaune@uchicago.edu

 

Undergraduate Students

 

Jj Abu-Halimah

Jj Abu-Halimah

Undergraduate student

JJ is an undergraduate student from Tennessee majoring in biochemistry on a pre-med track. Outside of the lab, he likes watching anime, playing games, listening to music, vlogging, and eating food. (Click my profile for a self-introductory video)

Email: jaabuhalimah@uchicago.edu

Aman Majmudar

Aman Majmudar

Undergraduate student

Aman is a junior majoring in law, letters, and society. His interests outside the lab lie in law, business, sustainability, and writing. He’s currently involved in student government, a venture capital firm, and various on-campus publications.

Email: amanm@uchicago.edu

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