Fang (Rose) Zhu

Fang (Rose) Zhu

Dr. Zhu has been a remarkable force in the field of insect toxicology since her graduate school years. As a doctoral student at Auburn University, she received the outstanding graduate student award, and as a Master’s student, she was honored with the best thesis award at China Agricultural University.

Since joining Penn State as an Assistant Professor in 2018, she has continued to excel, earning a stellar reputation both in the U.S. and internationally. In 2023, she was named one of the top 2% of scientists in her field globally by Stanford University and Elsevier.

Dr. Zhu's research program is impressively broad and dynamic, focusing on the mechanisms insects use to adapt to natural and synthetic toxins. She has developed innovative research systems to address the genetic basis for insecticide resistance using molecular biology, functional genomics, and structural biology. Her recent work on two-spotted spider mites and Colorado potato beetles, as well as her investigations into pesticide toxicity in beneficial insects like bees, has been groundbreaking. She has developed state-of-the-art methods to detect and quantify pesticide residues, which are now used by several labs at Penn State.

Dr. Zhu's productivity and impact are truly exceptional. She has given 53 invited talks across the globe and published 71 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, with her work being heavily cited over 4,300 times. Her impressive h-index of 31 is a testament to the significance of her contributions. As lead or co-PI, she has been awarded over $14 million in grants, including a prestigious NSF CAREER Award and a USDA SCRI CAP grant.

Dr. Zhu is also an incredibly successful mentor, guiding students and postdocs at every level. Her mentees have published numerous papers, received grants, and won awards for their scientific presentations. Her dedication to mentoring is evident in her students’ remarkable records of success.

Beyond her research and mentoring, Dr. Zhu has shown exemplary leadership. She has served as a mentor for EnvironMentors, reviewed graduate student grants, judged student competitions, and organized symposia at national and international conferences. She also serves on the editorial boards of five prestigious journals.

Dr. Zhu’s innovative approach and substantial contributions make her an exemplary candidate for this award and representative of early-stage excellence in the college. Her lab's interdisciplinary approach, integrating molecular and evolutionary biology, functional genomics, behavior, bioinformatics, protein chemistry, and structural biology, has led to groundbreaking discoveries. Her work not only advances the understanding of insect biology but also has practical applications in pest management and environmental protection.