Kevin Zhang, PhD
Department of Ophthalmology
University of Pennsylvania
PROJECT TITLE: Aqueous Humor Proteomics in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Dr. Zhang completed his PhD in the Dunaief Lab in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania, and now dives deeper into retinal lipid metabolism as a postdoc and medical resident. In addition to his scientific pursuits, he is the lab’s resident carnivorous plant expert and is often seen sharing specimens from his greenhouse.
Having matched in 2024 for ophthalmology residency at Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Zhang became the inaugural iPOWER resident. In this program, he has engaged in full-time research as a postdoctoral fellow for a year starting June 1, 2024. Following this, a technician continued his project throughout his ophthalmology residency. This has allowed him to stay engaged and productive in his research, which has been his main focus after clinical training.
Josh Dunaief, MD, PhD, an earlier recipient of the IRRF Aston Callahan, MD Scholar Award, and in whose Lab Dr. Zhang has trained says of him, “Kevin is always enthusiastic about teaching less experienced students, as exemplified when he mentored an under-represented minority college student through the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA), meeting with her once a week to discuss papers, and enabling her to prepare an impressive written research proposal and poster.” During his project during his postdoc year, Dr. Zhang used proteomics to discover new pathways involved in AMD pathogenesis. This approach, which leverages new, high sensitivity techniques, has been remarkably successful when applied to several other ocular diseases.
Further, Dr. Dunaief says of Dr. Zhang, “Kevin’s kindness, scientific curiosity, intellect, drive, collaborative personality and leadership skills will propel him to success in his future career as a vision scientist-clinician.”