Faculty Spotlight: biology department welcomes Zhao

By Victoria Yuskaitis
Staff Writer/ Lycourier


Dongjiao Zhao, a new faculty member of Lycoming College and an assistant professor of biology, is “so excited about the opportunity to teach at Lycoming.”

Zhao earned the bulk of his education in his native China. There, medical students begin their studies immediately after high school, earning their bachelor’s degree before their residency. A medical program takes anywhere from five to seven years, Zhao said.

The next step is a one-year internship, followed by a residency can last anywhere from three to four years. Following this outline, Zhao attended China Medical University. After completing his residency Zhao began work as a researcher and physician in Beijing.

Zhao explained that during his residency, he “saw many patients succumb to cancer.” For this reason, he chose cancer and stem cell research as one of his specialties.

It is because of his interest in cancer research that Zhao eventually came to the United States.

“While working in the hospital,” Zhao said, “I found lots of equipment, medicine and drugs were made by companies in the United States.” He said that he knew the best education regarding cancer and stem cell research is available in the United States.

Zhao said worked as a researcher to get a better background to apply for a decent graduate school. In addition, Zhao said he wanted to work in a cancer research laboratory, as he had been working in the clinical area of the hospital dealing with more basic illnesses during his residency. In the end, he chose Purdue University.

“Purdue is famous in China,” Zhao explained, because some famous Chinese students graduated from Purdue and returned to China. Zhao worked as a teaching assistant while at Purdue.

Zhao taught anatomy and physiology at a local community college for one year.

Here at Lycoming, Zhao teaches Biology 107 (Anatomy for Health Care Consumer) and Biology 338 (Cadaver-based Human Anatomy).

“The cadaver dissection lab is a very good opportunity because students can get hands-on anatomical experience. I think that’s priceless,” he said, adding that it might be the only chance for students to see the “inside world of our body.”

Zhao’s research at Lycoming is focusing on endocannabinoid systems. Zhao explained that he is studying “cannobinoid receptors one or two,” which can “help us understand stem cell biology.” He said that it may also find a way to help cancer patients with rhabodomyosrcomas (a type of cancer in connective tissues), among other ailments.

Although Zhao has no students helping him with his research at the moment, he did say that he is looking for someone possibly by the end of this semester, or at the beginning of the next semester after he is “all settled in.”

Zhao’s passion for biology is due in part to his parents, who are bothmedical doctors.The majority of his family remains in China. Still, Zhao said that when he was younger, it was easier to leave because at that age “you want to [see] another side of the world.”

Zhao thanks “the faculty, staff and students in biology, and the whole Lycoming community for the way they have welcomed me and for the opportunity to work with them.” He expressed thanks to the staff at Long Hall and the Department of Buildings and Grounds as well for “helping me to settle down while starting to teach here.” Zhao also extended his thanks to President Dr. James Douthat, Dr. Philip Sprunger and Dr. Sue Gaylor.

Zhao said that the students at the community college where he taught were “not on the same level as the students here,” although he did say that there were some very smart students who worked hard while working full or part-time jobs, something not nearly as common in a school like Lycoming.

Because of this observation, Zhao also said that he is “impressed by the hard-working faculty, staff and students in biology.”

Zhao is ready to work as hard as the rest of Lycoming.

“I would like to try my best to make contributions to the department’s success because they have treated me very well,” Zhao’s said.