# David Zhang

> David Yu Zhang is the Houston-based co-founder and CEO of Biostate AI, a scientist and repeat founder whose work spans DNA computing and artificial intelligence. A Caltech graduate and former Rice University professor, he co-founded NuProbe and Torus Biosystems, received a 2006 Hertz Fellowship and a presidential early-career science award in 2019, and writes about entrepreneurship, learning, creativity, and leadership.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Biostate AI
- **Organizations:** Biostate AI, NuProbe, Torus Biosystems, Rice University, California Institute of Technology, Wyss Institute at Harvard University
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S., Biology, California Institute of Technology, Ph.D., Computation and Neural Systems, California Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Second place at national MATHCOUNTS in 1996., Hertz Fellow, 2006., Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, announced in 2019.

## Career timeline

- **1996** — Placed second at the national MATHCOUNTS competition.
- **2005** — Completed his B.S. at Caltech.
- **2006** — Received a Hertz Fellowship.
- **2010** — Completed his Caltech Ph.D.; thesis defended May 14.
- **2010-2013** — Postdoctoral research at Harvard’s Wyss Institute.
- **2013** — Joined the Rice University faculty.
- **2016** — Co-founded NuProbe.
- **2019** — Promoted to associate professor at Rice; received PECASE; co-founded Torus Biosystems.
- **2021** — Left his Rice academic position to focus on entrepreneurship.
- **2023** — Co-founded Biostate AI with Ashwin Gopinath.
- **2025** — Announced Biostate AI’s $12 million Series A led by Accel.

## Achievements

- Second place at national MATHCOUNTS in 1996.
- Hertz Fellow, 2006.
- Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, announced in 2019.
- First PECASE recipient in Rice University’s bioengineering department.
- Co-author of research on designed DNA circuits and toehold exchange.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Published The Artist-Engineer in the AGI Era on LinkedIn on July 6.
- **2025-07** — Published an account of his AI-assisted music experiment on July 15.
- **2025-05** — Announced a $12 million Series A for Biostate AI led by Accel.

## Links

- Website: https://davezhangbiotech.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-zhang-0bb3383
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/DZhangBiotech

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/david-zhang
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22