Yihan Zhou

EDUCATION

College / University

ShanghaiTech University

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subjects

Biotechnology

Country

China, P.R.

Lab Experience

Primer design, plasmid construction, PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, bacterial transformation, agarose gel electrophoresis, mammalian and insect cell culture, cell transfection, protein expression, protein extraction, Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, AKTA FPLC-SEC/IEX purification, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, protein labeling, biolayer interferometry (BLI), UV spectrophotometry, cryo-EM sample preparation and structural analysis

Projects / Research

2025 – 2026: Mechanistic study of Tau phosphorylation and PP2A (B55) interaction
2024 – 2025: Exploring the potential host range of HCoV-HKU1
2023 – 2024: Structural basis of HCoV-HKU1 entry mediated by TMPRSS2 and glycan receptors

Publications

Wang, H., …, Zhou, Y., et. al. TMPRSS2 and Glycan Receptors Synergistically Facilitate Coronavirus Entry. Cell, 187(3), 1–11 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.016

Scholarships / Awards

2026 – 2027:	Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School
2026:	Honor Graduate, ShanghaiTech University

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

My scientific interests lie in structural biology, molecular mechanisms of diseases, and structure-guided therapeutic development. I am fascinated by how molecular interactions and conformational changes determine biological functions and influence disease progression. Through my research on viral entry mechanisms and Tau–PP2A (B55) interactions, I have developed a strong interest in studying dynamic protein complexes involved in infection and human diseases. I aim to combine cryo-EM, biophysical approaches, and molecular engineering strategies to understand disease-related targets at the molecular level. In the future, I hope to apply structural insights to the development of innovative therapeutic approaches, including antibody-based therapies and other targeted interventions. My long-term goal is to bridge fundamental molecular understanding with therapeutic design, contributing to the discovery of more precise treatments for complex diseases.