UFGI faculty profile – lei zhou

Name: Lei Zhou

Born:  South China

Position at UF: Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; Member, UF, Shands Cancer Center

Job before this one: Post-doc at MIT.

Current research interest, in layman’s terms: How irradiation, such as UV and x-ray, kills a cell. We use the fruit fly as the model system for its genetic accessibility. What we learned from the fruit fly can shed light on our understanding of why some cancer cells are resistant to irradiation and chemo therapy.  We are also in collaboration with computer scientists to develop applications to facilitate the utilization of knowledge obtained from biomedical research.

Recent research finding : X-ray induced cell death is mediated by multiple cell-death inducing genes — implication, in order to fully understand sensitivity and resistance, multiple genes/pathways have to assessed and considered. We found a new cell death–inducing gene and named it “companion of reaper” — CORP.

Prior Research: I was very interested in mammalian neuroanatomy, neuroendocrinology and behavior, which led me to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Behavior.

Education: Postdoc fellow: MIT, Ph.D; University of Massachusetts at Amherst. B. Medicine, Beijing Medical University.

Family: Married with a son, Lucas, who is 6 and half, and a daughter Kate, who joined us just a few days ago.

When I'm not at work, I am: Playing with Lucas.

The best thing that I've done lately that no one knows about: Changing diapers for Kate.

Last non-work related book: "War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning," by Chris Hedges

Last movie in a theater and your thoughts: “The Matrix” — I actually watched it on DVD.  Haven’t been in a real theater since Lucas was born.

Something always in your refrigerator: Grapefruit juice.

People would be surprised to know that: I am fascinated by the mystery in DNA, protein, evolution and I go to church.

Contact me at: leizhou@ufl.edu