Zhang, Jonathan
Jonathan Zhang
Dr. Zhiwen Jonathan Zhang has held the position of Associate Professor in the Bioengineering Department at the School of Engineering, Santa Clara University, since September 2011. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin in 2001, followed by postdoctoral research at The Scripps Research Institute from 2001 to 2004. Prior to joining Santa Clara University, Dr. Zhang was an Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin from 2004 to 2011, with appointments in the College of Pharmacy, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology.
Dr. Zhang's teaching repertoire spans from foundational courses like "Biomolecular Engineering"; to advanced offerings such as the integrative capstone "Molecular Biodevice Engineering"; as well as the classic "Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design". Under his guidance, his laboratory has shepherded the graduation of 7 post-doctors, 2 visiting professors, and 5 Ph.D. students, while also mentoring a diverse cohort of Masters and undergraduate research scholars.
Dr. Zhang has pioneered highly interdisciplinary research initiatives at the nexus of biomolecular and device engineering, biochemistry, chemical and synthetic biology,drug discovery, and BIOAI. The outcomes from Dr. Zhang's laboratory has yielded innovative technologies, including unnatural genetic codes, the trM2H system, site-specific protein cross-linking, synthetic antibodies, cell LASIK, and cell-shaving technologies, as well as new drugs for the treatment of cancers and ophthalmic diseases. Most notably, Dr. Zhang's team has unraveled the intricate molecular dialogues between mammalian cells and Gram-positive bacterial cells, culminating in the successful development of groundbreaking therapies to combat super-bacterial infections in a post-antibiotics era. His research has spearheaded advancements in GENAI within the biotech and healthcare sectors and has pioneered a patented "Biotech+Techbio" platform, currently revolutionizing the landscape of drug discovery.
Dr. Zhang actively nurtures collaborative partnerships with faculty members and his former students from universities and medical schools. His impactful contributions extend to serving on NIH peer review panels, chairing Ph.D. committees, Guest Professor,
and driving academic innovation and excellence within a distinguished university setting.
At the forefront of translational science and bioengineering, Dr. Zhang has been awarded ten US and international patents. Leveraging these discoveries, he has co-founded multiple biotech companies specializing in biopharma, biotech platforms, and high-throughput non-invasive diagnostic medical devices. Two of these companies have gone public through IPOs, and one was acquired in a significant deal in 2024. Dr. Zhang is a sought-after consultant for biotech and venture capital firms.
- Biomolecular Engineering I (BIOE 175) labs (BIOE175L)
- Biomolecular Engineering II (BIOE 176)
- Biodevice Engineering (BIOE 163) labs (BIOE 163L)
- Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design I (BIOE 138/238)
- Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design II (BIOE 139/239)
- Senior Design Projects (BIOE 194, 195, 196)
For a list of Bioengineering course descriptions, visit the Undergraduate Course Descriptions page or the Graduate Course Descriptions page.