About Zhong Chen, PhD

I have successfully met my professional goals as an Assistant Research Professor. As co-investigators, I fulfilled our U01 2025-2026 milestones by generating rat brain Multiome and whole genome DNA methylation datasets following prenatal e-cigarette exposure, testing single cell DNA methylation and modifying the Paired-Tag protocol to jointly profile gene expression and histone modifications (H3K4me1, H3K4me3, and H3K27me3). To pursue future funding, I piloted research on THC’s effects on medium spiny neuron development in the rat nucleus accumbens, submitted a manuscript, and helped submit a new NIH U01 grant using these findings as preliminary data.

 As first- or co-author, I published three peer-reviewed research papers and submitted five manuscripts. Although I had no formal teaching duties, I mentored lab assistant, graduate student, and postdoctoral researcher through hands-on trainings, study design, and troubleshooting. I also adopted advanced Omics technologies like, Bimodal, Paired-Tag, and single cell DNA methylation to enhance research at Loma Linda University.