Biography
Dr. Zhu currently is a tenured associate professor of Human Nutrition. He earned his B.S. in Clinical Medicine and M.D. from School of Medicine at Wuhan University. Thereafter, he earned his Ph.D. in Internal Medicine with a focus on Gastroenterology and Nutrition from The First Clinical Medical College at Wuhan University. After that, he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship in Human Nutrition at UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Research Interests
Dr. Zhu’s research focuses on exploring how diet patterns/nutrients (especially one-carbon metabolism nutrients) and gene interactions affect human chronic diseases risk, and understanding inter-individual differences in nutrients metabolism through a systems biology approach which incorporates various assessments of biochemical, epidemiological, genetic, epigenetic, metabolomic and physiologic endpoints. The goal of this research work is to identify individual genetic factors contributing to diet-related disease risk, understanding inter-individual differences in nutrients metabolism, and exploring effective nutrition intervention programs, which will inform the development of personalized nutrients intake recommendations and ultimately promote human health as well as allow for more effective prevention and/or treatment of human chronic diseases. Dr. Zhu's research findings have been published in multiple high-quality peer-reviewed journals, such as Diabetes Care, JAMA Network Open, and Nutrients and he has been invited to present his significant findings at various international academic conferences.
Teaching Interests
Nutrient Metabolism; Nutritional Biochemistry; Nutrition and Health