Yi Zhang

Associate Professor

Department of Biomedical Engineering

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Education

• Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology (2016)
  
• B.E., Dalian University of Technology (2011)

Research Summary

• Neurotechnology development
• CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics
• Wearable sensors

Honors and Awards

• NSF CAREER Award, 2023
• UConn-AAUP Research Excellence Award –Early Career, 2023
• UConn BME Early Career Faculty Scholar Award, 2023
• NIH Brain Initiative R01 Awardee, 2020
• BMES Career Development Award, Biomedical Engineering Society, 2019
• Waldemar T. Ziegler Award for Best Research Paper, Georgia Tech, 2015
• Exemplary Academic Achievement Award, Georgia Tech, 2013

Publications

Google Scholar:  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=R1Kcul4AAAAJ&hl=en

H. Sun^†, X. Xue^†,*, G. L. Robilotto^†, X. Zhang^†, C. Son^†, X. Chen, Y. Cao, K. Nan, Y. Yang, G. Fennell, J. Jung, Y. Song, H. Li, S. Lu, Y. Liu, Y. Li, W. Zhang, J. He, X. Wang, Y. Li, A. D. Mickle*, Y. Zhang*, “Liquid-based encapsulation for implantable bioelectronics across broad pH environments”, Nature Communications 2025, 16, 1019. PDF;  LINK

Y. Li, Z. Wang, Y. Lu, H. Li, Z. Weng, J. Sun, Y. Zhang, T. Zhang, X. Wang*,  “Thermal-gradient-driven heterogeneous actuation of liquid crystal elastomers for a crawling robot” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2025, 7(6):9992-10003. LINK

Y. Zhang, Z. Weng, H. Li, G. Wu, X. Gao, Z. You, “CRISPR mediated field-effect transistor, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same”US 18662392.

M. Hajikhani, S. Kousheh, Y. Zhang, Mengshi Lin, “Design of a novel SERS substrate by electrospinning for the detection of thiabendazole in soy-based foods”, Food Chemistry 2023, 137703. LINK

M. Hajikhani, Y. Zhang, X. Gao, M. Lin*, “Advances in CRISPR-based SERS Detection of Food Contaminants: A Review,” Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2023, 138, 615-627. LINK

Y. Zhang^†, Y. Song^†, Z. Weng, J. Yang, L. Avery, K. D. Dieckhaus, R. Y. Lai, X. Gao, Y. Zhang*, “A point-of-care microfluidic biosensing system for rapid and ultrasensitive nucleic acid detection from clinical samples,” Lab on a Chip 2023,  23, 3862-3873. LINK

H. Li^†, J. Yuan^†, G. Fennell^†, V. Abdulla^†, R. Nistala, D. Dandachi, D. K.C. Ho*, Y. Zhang*, “Recent advances in wearable sensors and data analytics for continuous monitoring and analysis of biomarkers and symptoms related to COVID-19”, Biophysics Reviews 2023, 4, 031302. LINK

Y. Cao^†, X. Chen^†, A. Matarasso, Z. Wang, Y. Song, G. Wu, X. Zhang, H. Sun, X. Wang, M. R. Bruchas, Y. Li*, Y. Zhang*, “Covalently attached slippery surface coatings to reduce protein adsorptions on poly(dimethylsiloxane) planar surfaces and 3D microfluidic channels”, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2023, 15, 7, 9987–9995. LINK

Z. Weng^†, Z. You^†, J. Yang, N. Mohammad, M. Lin, Q. Wei, X. Gao*, Y. Zhang*, “CRISPR-Cas biochemistry and CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62(17), e202214987. LINK

J. Yang^†, Y. Song^†, X. Deng, J. A. Vanegas, Z. You, Y. Zhang, Z. Weng, L. Avery, K. D. Dieckhaus, A. Peddi, Y. Gao*, Y. Zhang*, X. Gao*, “Engineered LwaCas13a with enhanced collateral activity for nucleic acid detection”, Nature Chemical Biology 2023, 19, 45–54. LINK

I. Heck^†, W. Lu^†, Z. Wang, X. Zhang, T. Adak, T. Cu, C. Crumley, Y. Zhang, X. Wang*, “Soft, wireless pressure-sensor-integrated smart bandage for the management of diabetic foot ulcers”, Advanced Materials Technologies 2023, 8(3), 2200821. LINK

Wu, I. Heck, N. Zhang, G. Phaup, X. Zhang, Y. Wu, D. E. Stalla, Z. Weng, H. Sun, H. Li, Z. Zhang, S. Ding, D. P. Li, Y. Zhang*, “Wireless, battery-free push-pull microsystem for membrane-free neurochemical sampling in freely moving animals”, Science Advances 2022, 8, eabn2277.

Wu, N. Zhang, A. Matarasso, I. Heck, H. Li, W. Lu, G. Phaup, M. J. Schneider, Y. Wu, Z. Weng, H. Sun, Z. Gao, X. Zhang, S. G. Sandberg, D. Parvin, E. Seaholm, S. K. Islam, X. Wang, P. E. M. Phillips, D. C. Castro, S. Ding, D. P. Li, M. R. Bruchas, Y. Zhang*, “Implantable aptamer-graphene microtransistors for real-time monitoring of neurochemical release in vivo”, Nano Letters 2022, 22, 9, 3668–3677.

Gao^†, G. Wu^†, Y. Song^†, H. Li, Y. Zhang, M. J. Schneider, Y. Qiang, J. Kaszas, Z. Weng, H. Sun, B. D. Huey, R. Y. Lai, Y. Zhang*, “Multiplexed monitoring of neurochemicals via electrografting-enabled site-selective functionalization of aptamers on graphene field-effect transistors”, Analytical Chemistry 2022, 94, 24, 8605–8617.

Li^†, J. Yang^†, G. Wu^†, Z. Weng^†, Y. Song, Y. Zhang, J. A. Vanegas, L. Avery, Z. Gao, H. Sun, Y. Chen, K. D. Dieckhaus, X. Gao*, Y. Zhang*, “Amplification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory syncytial virus using CRISPR Cas13a and graphene field-effect transistors”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61(32): e202203826. (Hot paper and selected as a back cover)