Jian ZhangView profile
Assistant Professor
Jian Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. He obtained his B.S. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Peking University (2011) and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (2016), followed by postdoctoral research at Vanderbilt University (2017-2022). His work integrates engineering , mechanics , and computational biology to study cancer mechanobiology and regenerative medicine. Education: B.S., Theoretical & Applied Mechanics, Peking University (2011) Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2016) Dr. Zhang's research focuses on cancer mechano-metabolism —how mechanical forces interact with cellular bioenergetics to influence tumor progression. His lab develops bioengineering tools and computational models to study cell migration in 3D environments, nuclear mechanics, and extracellular matrix interactions. Recent work explores leader-follower dynamics in collective invasion and mitochondrial transfer in aggressive cancers. The 15 most recent publications highlight themes in cancer metabolism , nuclear deformation , and matrix stiffness , with applications in metastasis and regenerative medicine. His articles span computational modeling of energy-driven invasion hierarchies, biophysical studies of nuclear mechanics, and translational research connecting tissue density to cancer progression. At the University of Arkansas, Dr. Zhang teaches BMEG 26104 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (Fall) and BMEG 4700V/5700V Special Topics: Physics of the Cell (Spring). The Zhang Lab (Cell Biophysics Laboratory) emphasizes collaborative research, mentorship, and the development of precision mechanomedicine tools to address challenges in cancer and regenerative medicine.










