Hongyong Zhang received the B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China in 2020. He won the silver award in International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition hold by MIT in 2018. From Jun. to Sept. in 2018, he was an exchange student in Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan with full scholarship. He also got the foundation from College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project (National Level) in 2019. He has received the Certification for Mechanical Design at the level of associate. In Aug. 2020, he joined the Center of Excellence in Biomedical Research on Advanced Integrated-on-chips Neurotechnologies (CenBRAIN Neurotech) in Westlake University for his Ph.D. project.

Hongyong is interested in organ-on-a-chip applications, 3D functional human nerve in vitro. In his Ph.D. project, he is working on establishing a functional network of neurons on high resolution microelectrode array chip, which can record neural activities and stimulate neurons. He achieved initial results on fabricating microelectrode array and cell culturing. Lithography and wet etching technique have been used in microelectrode array fabrication. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) was used to establish human network of neurons on microelectrode array chip. After the neurons maturing, he will add chemicals to induce network of neurons to provoke neurodegenerative diseases. Also, he has experience in microfabrication, mechanical design and microfluidic device design.

[1] Zhang H, Wang P, Huang N, Zhao L, Su Y, Li L, Bian S and Sawan M,“Single neurons on microelectrode array chip: manipulation and analyses,” Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Sept. 2023, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1258626.

[2] Zhang H, Rong G, Bian S and Sawan M,“Lab-on-Chip Microsystems for Ex Vivo Network of Neurons Studies: A Review,” Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.841389.

[3] Liu Z.*, Zhang H.* et al.,"Mild formation of core-shell hydrogel microcapsules for cell encapsulation," Biofabrication, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/abd076.