Postdoctoral Researcher
Danping Chen, Ph.D.
danping@illinois.edu
Danping is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Zhao Lab. In her doctoral work, she studied the interplay between neural regulation and metabolism using fruit flies. Her future work will focus on unraveling the roles of epigenetics and dissecting brain architecture underlying the metabolism conditions.
Graduate Student
Chaoran Zhang
cz103@illinois.edu
Chaoran joined the Zhao Lab in 2025 as a Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Tsinghua University. Chaoran is passionate about developing innovative tools to explore brain connectivity and to advance connectome research. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with her cat, cooking, and traveling.
Zhou Joe Wan
zhouwan2@illinois.edu
Joe joins Boxuan lab in 2024 as a Ph.D student from the neuroscience program. Before that, he got his Bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences and Applied Mathematics from Peking University. Currently, Joe focuses on optimizing the pipeline of connectome-seq data analysis as well as using multiomics to study the brain. Outside the lab, he enjoys cooking and all kinds of sports.
Zhenxuan Peter Sun
zhenxuan@illinois.edu
Peter graduated from UCSB in 2023 with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry, then he worked in the Auerbach Lab as a research technician. He joined in the Zhao Lab as a PhD student in 2024. His current works in the lab focus on utilizing the TRAP2 system and connectome-seq combined with behavioral experiments to investigate the systematic structures and functions of the brain.
Shengyi Fei
sfei3@illinois.edu
Shengyi embarked on his academic journey in Boxuan’s lab in 2023 as a PhD student. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Engineering, he then transitioned to the US to pivot his research focus towards microRNA and skeletal muscle, culminating in a MS degree. Currently, for his PhD endeavor, Shengyi is driven to develop innovative high-throughput technologies aimed at elucidating the connectomics of the mammalian brain.
Zheng William Fang
zhengf2@illinois.edu
When I was an undergrad, I majored in molecular & cellular biology and studied temporal transcription factors in Drosophila medulla neuroblasts in Dr. Xin Li’s lab. In 2023, I joined Boxuan’s lab as a PhD student and started to apply advanced technologies such as APEX labelling and sn-m6A-seq to study the brain. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball and video games.
Undergraduate Student
Syed Eesa Nazir
snazi@illinois.edu
Eesa is a freshman majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He has interests in signaling pathways, connectome research, and neurodegenerative disorders. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, watching movies, and playing video games.
Hetvi Patel
hpate341@illinois.edu
Hetvi Patel is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience. Her academic interests include cellular neuroscience and neurodegenerative disorders. In her free time, she enjoys staying active, traveling, baking, and reading.
Dehao Kong
dehaok2@illinois.edu
Dehao is a sophomore student studying Molecular & Cellular Biology and Human Nutrition. He has interests on signaling pathway and cellular metabolism. He would spend time on Chinese Martial Arts, Tea Ceremony and outdoor activities for hobbies.
April Meng
xmeng18@illinois.edu
April Meng is a junior majoring in psychology and statistics. Academically, she is interested in computational neuroscience and connectomes both in higher cognitive and molecular level. Her hobbies include climbing, reading, and watching movies.
Ruchi Prakash
ruchip2@illinois.edu
Ruchi Prakash is a sophomore from Indiana studying psychology and neuroscience. Some of her academic interests include cellular neuroscience, neurotechnology, and the effects of toxins. In her free time, Ruchi enjoys painting, baking, and listening to music.
Alumni
Manaswini Mannam, Undergrad 2023-2024.
Amy Yonezawa, Undergrad 2023-2024.
Aditi Jindal, Undergrad 2024-2025.
Charlie Sandberg, Undergrad 2025.
Andrew Tao, Undergrad 2025.
Larsen Prokop, Undergrad 2025.