Zhang Lab @ Danforth
Ru Zhang, Principal Investigator
Position:
Associate Member, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, since January 2024;
Assistant Member, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, October 2016-December 2023
Education and trainings:
Postdoc, Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, 2010-2016
PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005-2009
BS, Nankai University, China, 2001-2005
Contact:
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
975 N Warson Road, Olivette, MO 63132, USA
About: Ru's research experience centers on photosynthesis and ranges from plant physiology/biochemistry to algal genomics to organelle evolution. During her PhD training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she worked with Dr. Thomas Sharkey using gas exchange and spectroscopic methods to study the effects of high temperature on photosynthesis in leaves of Arabidopsis and tobacco plants. During her postdoctoral training with Dr. Martin Jonikas and Dr. Arthur Grossman at the Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, Ru continued to explore photosynthesis by developing high-throughput genotyping and quantitative phenotyping tools in the eukaryotic, unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to identify photosynthesis-deficient algal mutants on a genome-wide scale. She also participated in the generation of a genome-saturating, indexed, mutant library of Chlamydomonas. The library could be used as both forward and reverse genetic platforms to dissect cellular processes under various conditions. In addition, she has worked on the photo-acclimation of the green amoeba Paulinella chromatophora (which has nascent “plastids” that evolved much more recently, 0.06 billion years ago) to gain insight into the evolution of photosynthetic organelles. She is passionate about how photosynthesis in plants/algae respond to abiotic stresses, especially heat stress. Her long-term career goal is to engineer photosynthesis for improved agricultural and biofuel production. Outside of the lab, Ru enjoys cooking, gardening, playing Ping Pong, watching movies, and playing with her kids. Ru is a mom of two boys: 6-year-old Zoran and 3-month-old Roger when she started her lab at Danforth in 2016.
Kaia Luik
Position:
Undergraduate researcher, since August 2025
Education:
Washington University in St. Louis, Senior
About: Kaia is a senior at Washington University in St. Louis. She grew up in Houston, Texas and spent two years in Bangladesh. She has been interested in genetics since she started high school, and as a college freshman became focused on plant genetics. In the summer of 2022, she worked as a Grow Room Assistant at Elemental Enzymes. She was an undergraduate student intern in Zhang Lab from September 2022 to May 2023, then resumed in August 2025. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing (with a recent interest in sketch comedy), and studying with friends.
Zhengsong Chen
Position:
Graduate student through the Division of Plant Science and Technology at the University of Missouri, Columbia, since August 2025
Education:
Masters, China Agricultural University, 2023
Bachelor of Plant Protection, Northeast Agricultural University, 2020
About: Zhengsong received her Master’s degree from China Agricultural University, Beijing, in June 2023. During her Master’s studies, she worked in the Laboratory of Molecular Plant Viruses at the College of Plant Protection, where she investigated Potato leafroll virus systemic infection in Nicotiana benthamiana and Physalis. She joined the Zhang Lab in August 2025 to study C4 photosynthesis. Outside of research, Zhengsong enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and exploring new experiences.
Alethia A. Brito Bello
Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, since February 2026
Education: Texas Tech University, Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Science, 2025
Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), B.S. in Biotechnology Engineering
About: Ale is a postdoctoral researcher working on the project “Epigenetic Regulation of Heat Stress Memory in Photosynthetic Cells.” She began working with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in 2018 at Stela Genomics, a biotech company in Mexico. During her Ph.D. at Texas Tech University, she investigated bioactive compounds produced by microalgae with pesticidal effects. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends (including her two dogs), exploring new places and foods, outdoor activities, and traveling.
Amarachi Ejimadu
Position: Undergraduate Intern
Education: Principia College, BS in Biology and Chemistry, 2027
SB Pye
Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate (February 2026 start)
Education:
PhD in Molecular Microbiology & Microbial Pathogenesis from Washington University in St Louis (2026)
BS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the University of South Carolina (2020)
BA in French from the University of South Carolina (2020)
About: SB Pye is driven by a commitment to advancing agricultural sustainability through molecular and genomics approaches. In the Zhang Lab, SB’s postdoctoral research investigates the regulatory mechanisms underlying C4 photosynthesis and carbon partitioning in sorghum. Before joining the lab, SB earned their PhD from Washington University in St. Louis, and served as an Adjunct Biology Instructor at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. Outside of lab, they play string bass, dance, and enjoy outdoor or thrill-seeking activities like skateboarding and skiing.