Zhiyuan Chen

2025 Astronaut Scholar

Hometown

West Windsor, New Jersey

Major

Biological Engineering; Biochemistry

College

College of Engineering; College of Agriculture

 

Recipient of the 2025 Astronaut Scholarship, Zhiyuan Chen was recognized for his promising research in developing a new biodegradable polymer for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. From the moment he entered the lab at Purdue, Zhiyuan pursued excellence by honing his technical skills, reading beyond the literature, and problem solving with creativity and daring.

From establishing the infrastructure in setting up a new lab protocol to synthesizing biodegradable polymers during a summer SURF program, Zhiyuan has distinguished himself as a leader who raises the level of performance of those around him at Purdue. He is the point person for undergraduate and graduate students alike who need training on lab techniques, because he has spent countless hours in the lab building a nuanced understanding of the technique. His curiosity drives both his work ethic and motivation to seek answers to each new research question.

Writing in strong support of his application, Dr. Taimoor Qazi in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, and Dr. Matthew Tegtmeyer in the Department of Biological Sciences, witnessed Zhiyuan Chen’s commitment to learning everything he could in the lab.