Before he came down the road to study for his PhD at Duke, David Zhu, was a biochemistry major at UNC Chapel Hill. There, he was interested in a mixture of analytical and organic chemistry, and the synthesis of new nitric oxide-releasing molecules as therapeutics to combat various bacterial infections. Now in the Meyer Lab at Duke, he’s optimizing DARTseq (a genotyping-by-sequencing platform), a tool to identify N6-methyladenosine RNA modifications in stress granules.
A PhD can be a period of transition, so David appreciates the department’s welcoming atmosphere, as well as the collaborative environment and high quality of research. The biochemistry professors are dedicated to student mentoring to help them reach their research and publishing milestones.
David will contribute to his field by publishing and by becoming an accomplished science communicator. In addition, he hopes to become a better mentor and teacher. To do this, he’s taking advantage of the opportunity to TA Biochem 301 and will be mentoring undergraduates who work in the lab.
Although David went to school just 30 minutes away, he finds Durham’s living expenses are cheaper than Chapel Hill’s—an important factor in choosing where to attend graduate school. Plus, he finds Durham is just the right size, with plenty of outdoor activities like hiking the Eno River trails and visiting various breweries like Fullsteam and Hi-Wire. Read about some of our other PhD students.