Education
2015, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
“From Structure to Dynamics: Direct Visualization of Primary Plant Cell Walls by Atomic Force Microscopy”
Advisor: Daniel J. Cosgrove
Cell and Developmental Biology Program
Member of Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF)
2007, B.S. in Biological Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Research
experience
2015 - present, Postdoctoral Scholar in the Cosgrove lab, Pennsylvania State University
Initiated a collaboration with Prof. Dimitrios Valvylonis (Dept. Physics, Lehigh University) for automatic detection and quantification of cellulose microfibril movement.
2008 - 2015, Ph.D. thesis research in the Cosgrove lab, Pennsylvania State University
Study structure and biomechanics of plant cell walls and mechanisms of cell wall loosening by cell wall modifying proteins; Lead development of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in visualizing never dried plant cell walls in fluid.
Graduate course rotation in the lab of Dr. Gong Chen studying neuronal pathology. Used patch clamp and neuron cell culture techniques.
Graduate course rotation in the lab of Dr. Sarah Assmann studying plant stress signaling pathways. Applied molecular biology techniques and plant tissue culture methods.
2005 - 2007, Undergraduate thesis research supervised by Dr. Feng Ming and Dr. Daleng Shen, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University.
Studied the expression and function of the orchid AGAMOUS-like genes and the interactions between B and C class proteins of the Phalaenopsis orchid.
Received the Wang-Dao Presidential Scholar Award.
2006 - 2007, Chun-Tsung Scholar Honors Program with Dr. Gang Chen, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology, Fudan University and the Museum of Shanghai History.
Investigated the cause of foxing stains on ancient paper and identified the relevant fungi species for the purpose of paper document preservation.
Skills
Atomic Force Microscopy
Confocal Fluorescent Microscopy
Quantitative Image Analysis
Carbohydrate Analysis
Biomechanical Assays such as:
Creep and Stress-Strain assay
Molecular Biology Technique
Languages
English
Chinese
French
Tibetan (Kham)
Publications
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Zhang T, Zheng YZ, Cosgrove DJ. (2016) Spatial organization of cellulose microfibrils and matrix polysaccharides in primary plant cell walls as imaged by multi-channel atomic force microscopy. Plant J. 85: 179-192. (Featured article) doi: 10.1111/tpj.13102
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Xiao CW, Zhang T, Zheng YZ, Cosgrove DJ, Anderson CT. (2016) Xyloglucan deficiency disrupts microtubule stability and cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis, altering cell growth and morphogenesis. Plant Physiol. 170: 234-249 doi: 10.1104/pp.15.01395
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Lei L, Zhang T, Strasser R, Lee CM, Gonneau M, Mach L, Vernhettes S, Kim SH, Cosgrove DJ, Li SD, Gu Y. (2014) The jiaoyao1 mutant is an allele of korrigan1 that abolishes endoglucanase activity and affects the organization of both cellulose microfibrils and microtubules. The Plant Cell. 26: 2601-2616.
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Zhang T, Mahgsoudy-Louyeh S, Tittmann B, Cosgrove DJ. (2014) Visualization of the nanoscale pattern of recently-deposited cellulose microfibrils and matrix materials in never-dried primary walls of the onion epidermis. Cellulose. 21: 853-862.
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Guo B, Zhang T, Shi J, Chen D, Shen D, Ming F. (2008) Cloning and characterization of a novel PI-like MADS-box gene in Phalaenopsis orchid. DNA Sequence. 19: 332-339.
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Guo B, Hexige S, Zhang T, Pittman JK, Chen D, Ming F. (2007) Cloning and characterization of a PI-like MADS-box gene in Phalaenopsis orchid. J Biochem Mol Biol. 40: 845-852.
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Chen D, Guo B, Hexige S, Zhang T, Shen D, Ming F. (2007) SQUA-like genes in the orchid Phalaenopsis are expressed in both vegetative and reproductive tissues. Planta. 226: 369-380.
Teaching Experience
2013 Graduate School Teaching Certificate, Penn State University
Teaching with Technology Certificate, Penn State University
2009 – 2011 Teaching assistant for undergraduate molecular biology course Bio230W lab session.
Awards and Honnors
2015 Outstanding poster, Gordon Research Conference on Plant Cell Walls (Watham, MA, USA)
2011 Honorable Mention for ChloroFilms
2008 University Graduate Fellowship Award, Penn State University, USA.
2007 Chun-Tsung Scholar Honors Program, Fudan University, China
2005 Wang-Dao Presidential Scholar Award, Fudan University, China.