Zhou Zhou

Dr. Zhou Zhou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he joined in January 2025. He leads the Plant Functional Genomics & Biotechnology Lab, focusing on genetic crop improvement using integrated molecular approaches. His research bridges fundamental plant biology and applied biotechnology to address global agricultural challenges.

Education

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University (2020)
• M.Sc. in Plant Genetics, Genomics, and Breeding, Southern Illinois University (2013)
• B.Sc. in Biology Science, Southwest University, China (2009)

Research Focus

Dr. Zhou's program employs genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and multi-omics technologies to enhance nutritional quality, disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Key focus areas include functional genomics of cereal and legume crops, metabolic engineering of oil biosynthesis pathways, and epigenetic regulation of plant traits.

Publication Trends

His 16+ publications demonstrate consistent focus on crop biotechnology, particularly using genomics tools like TILLING-by-Sequencing+ to modify oil/fatty acid profiles in soybean and oat. Recent work emphasizes transcriptome reprogramming and enzyme regulation to improve seed composition while maintaining plant-microbe symbiosis.

Academic Activities

Dr. Zhou teaches undergraduate courses including Principles of Structure and Function (BIOL 11900), Principles of Functional Biology (BIOL 21900), and Cell Biology (BIOL 38100/38200). He actively recruits students for his lab, which investigates genetic improvement strategies for staple crops.