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» Home » Student Profiles » Zhiyu (Katherine) Zhao

Tuum Est!

Graduation 2023

This spring, students graduate from a wide range of Faculty of Medicine programs.

Meet the Class of 2023

Zhiyu (Katherine) Zhao

By dcc2012 | May 18, 2023

Program: PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
What attracted you to your field?

The desire of exploring the unknown world. I am fascinated by knowledge and I want to continuously learn. I was lucky to meet so many great scientists who are perceptive and multi-talented at the early stage of my graduate program. They inspired me and I knew I wanted to be one of them.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

My favourite moment was as simple as having lunch with my friends and colleagues. It is great to make friends in and outside the lab. There were great laughs among us, and I gained strength and encouragement from them.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Doing a PhD can be overwhelming. Continuing to learn is critical, but do take time to rest and do something that makes you feel relaxed and happy. Stay connected with family and friends and get regular exercise.

Tell us about your research.

Over 60 per cent of currently developed therapeutics target membrane proteins, making them an important area of research for treating a range of diseases. However, it is challenging to isolate and keep membrane proteins in a water-soluble environment so that we can study them.

Our research focuses on using membrane mimetics – called peptidiscs – to wrap around and protect membrane proteins in a water-soluble environment. This opens up new opportunities for biochemical analyses, such as studying membrane protein structures, finding new ways for drugs to treat diseases, and identifying markers that differentiate normal cells from diseased cells.

What’s next for you?

I am visiting my family in China after four years and taking some time to recharge. I’ll be excited to apply the skills I have acquired through my studies and broaden my research area in the next stage of my career. I am interested in cancer research and studying diseases from both the molecular and cellular levels. I am open to opportunities and looking forward to new challenges!

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