Linlin Zhao, Ph.D. MRB 4125 169 Aberdeen Drive University of California, Riverside Riverside, CA 92521 951-827-9090 linlin.zhao[AT]ucr.edu

ZHAO Research Laboratory

Department of Chemistry

& Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program

University of California, Riverside

Name position in the lab position after

Yu Hsuan Chen ’25 ph.d. student Postdoc, UC riverside

Kathleen urrutia ’24 ph.d. student public health fellow, nm

Wenxin Zhao ’24 ph.d. student Postdoc, U of Utah

Jin tang ’23 ph.d. student research specialist, UCSF; Postdoc, UT Southwestern

Dr. shane kennedy postdoc academic coordinator, UCR stem cell core

(2024-2025)

Dr. Chaoxing Liu postdoc Associate Professor, sun yat-sen uniVersity

(2020-2022)

Dr. Wenyan Xu project scientist Analytical chemist, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories

(2014-2023)

Ching-Hsin Yang (2020-2022), MS student; Phd student, Academia Sinica

Anshu Joshi (2018-2020), MS student;

daniel oppong (2017-2019), Ms student; phd student, wayne state univ

Nana morehouse (2017-2019), MS student; Scientist, Oxford Natural Laboratories

maya tree (2017-2019), laboratory technician; central michigan univ

Riley boyd (2017-2018), visiting student/technician; Md student, northwestern univ

Faris samkari (2018-2019), BS student; MS student, kaust

madison tarnowski (summer 2017), summer visiting student, univ of michigan

Alan Huang (summer 2017), high school student; johns hopkins univ

OLiver Yockey (summer 2015 --- Summer 2017), BS student; md student, central michigan univ

Ashley Keating (Summer 2016 --- Spring 2017), BS student; MD student, Michigan state univ

Daniel kool (fall 2013 --- summer 2015), MS student; PhD student, Iowa State Univ

Tianzuo Xu (spring 2015 --- spring 2016), MS student; Phd student, brigham young univ

hannah reidenbach (spring 2016), BS student;

Tylor O’neill (summer 2015), BS student; wayne state univ

adam ouellette (summer 2014 --- summer 2015), BS student; MD student at Hofstra Univ

Nicholas morse (fall 2014 --- spring 2015), bs student; dmd student univ of detroit mercy

Christian Bonzheim (fall 2014 --- spring 2015), BS student; md student at auc

claire olson (fall 2013 --- summer 2015), bs student, ms program at CMu

Storm Shriver (2014 spring), bs student; senior scientist, Comprehensive lab services

Alec Bergman (2014 spring), bs student;

Mitch Thompson (2013 Fall), bs student;

Dr. Zhao was born in Jilin City, China, known for its stunning winter rime ice. He began his academic journey at Jilin University, where he earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry. He then pursued a Ph.D. in Bioanalytical Chemistry at the University of Connecticut, studying under Profs. James F. Rusling and John B. Schenkman. His doctoral research focused on developing high-throughput methods to screen and identify DNA-reactive chemicals using electrochemistry and liquid chromatography --- mass spectrometry. Following his doctoral training, Dr. Zhao’s research interest shifted to the biological effects of chemically modified DNA. He conducted his postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine with Profs. F. Peter Guengerich and Martin Egli, where he gained expertise in protein biochemistry, enzymology, nucleic acid chemistry, and macromolecule X-ray crystallography. He elucidated the mutagenic mechanism of N2,3-ethenoguanine, a chemically modified DNA base derived from vinyl chloride exposure and oxidative stress. His research concluded that N2,3-ethenoguanine is an important DNA modification for the vinyl chloride-induced human liver carcinoma.

Dr. Zhao began his independent career in 2013 at Central Michigan University and later relocated to the University of California, Riverside in 2019. His research program investigates the chemical and molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA damage, repair, and turnover, and exploits chemical biology approaches to modulate mitochondrial DNA-mediated pathways. A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Zhao has guided numerous students throughout his career. Since 2013, he has mentored four postdoctoral fellows, three Ph.D. students, five M.S. students, two technicians, and over 20 undergraduate students. He currently trains eight Ph.D. students, one undergraduate student, and two postdoctoral fellows, and is passionate about preparing the next generation of scientists and fostering a love for science.

Linlin Zhao, Ph.D.

MRB 4125

169 Aberdeen Drive

University of California, Riverside

Riverside, CA 92521

951-827-9090

linlin.zhao[AT]ucr.edu

Anal Jana

postdoctoral fellow

current members

Alumni