Meet grad student Carlos Huang-Zhu: Using molecular simulations to study nanoparticles

Carlos Huang-Zhu is a University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering Graduate Engineering Research Scholar in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Huang-Zhu, who works in Hunt-Hougen Associate Professor Reid Van Lehn’s research group, earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico–Mayagüez. Huang-Zhu is also a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and holds a Chemistry-Biology Interface Traineeship from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. His research focuses on using molecular simulations to study nano-bio interactions. Specifically, he designs nanoparticles coated with chemical molecules that possess modular groups which he modifies to study how different chemistries modulate thermodynamic and mechanistic processes with lipid bilayers.

Q: What factors led you to choose UW-Madison for your graduate education?

A: The two main reasons for me choosing the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at UW-Madison were (1) the welcoming and supportive community: I felt that the grad students within the department emanated happiness and seemed to enjoy both their personal and academic aspects as PhD students, and (2) the wide spectrum of collaborative research done within the department, as well as with other groups on campus and at other universities.

Q: How did you get interested in your research area?

A: I’ve been interested in nanomaterials ever since I was in high school, where I had the amazing opportunity of participating in Program SEED from the American Chemical Society. In summary, selected high school students were given the opportunity to do undergraduate-level chemistry research at a university lab during their last two summers of high school. During my second summer, I worked on the synthesis of nanoparticles for sensing applications and fell in love with nanoscience. However, I discovered my passion for computational research upon joining the PhD program (as I was not fully aware of the full extent of that area). I’ve always been a tech-nerd, so after seeing my advisor Reid Van Lehn’s research presentation and how he uses computers to simulate and characterize biological and chemical processes, I immediately knew that it was what I wanted to do for my PhD research.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your research?

A: Without a doubt, being able to actually see what’s happening at a molecular scale. Oftentimes, experimental techniques and instruments do not have the necessary resolution to look so closely at processes (e.g. how two molecules interact at the atomic level), so you can only hypothesize the reasons for observing x or y results. With my research, I can provide those explanations with quantitative metrics and visual support through simulation snapshots and videos.

Q: In what ways do you receive support here as a grad student?

A: My advisor has always provided an incredible level of support for my professional/academic career as well as for my personal life. He knows how to listen and understand his students, and always shows empathy while discussing potential solutions to whatever challenges I could be facing (in my research and in my personal life). The GERS group is also another great support because it has always provided us a safe and open space for us to share both our frustrations when something is not going well and the excitement from our triumphs.

Q: What do you like best about being part of the GERS community?

A: I love that we meet monthly to have lunch and just catch up. It helps me take my mind off some of the research and gives me something to look forward to that’s academic, but not necessarily research-oriented. I also loved the pop-up lunches because sometimes you just need a sporadic pick-me-up, and these served that purpose for me. Basically, anything that gets us together to just talk to each other about anything. Free food is also a great incentive.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Usually, my evening free time is composed of virtual dates with my girlfriend (long-distance relationship) where we watch movies and TV shows. However, I also exercise daily in the early morning. Other hobbies include doing some photography, reading books, playing sports and playing video games.

Q: What do you hope to do when you’ve finished your degree … and how did you choose that path?

A: I’d like to first go into industry to better ensure economic stability before returning home to Puerto Rico to transition into academia as a professor and researcher. I’d love to make molecular simulations much more accessible in Puerto Rico regardless of the instabilities that currently plague our electrical grid, showing that we can leverage high performance computing resources from governmental agencies (i.e., National Science Foundation) in order to do great science.

Q: What would you say to encourage prospective students to attend grad school here in the College of Engineering?

A: There’s a plethora of multi- and interdisciplinary research projects among different departments within the COE, which means that there are so many opportunities for anyone to find something they like. The majority of grad students and professors here are genuinely friendly so don’t be afraid of reaching out if you want to learn more about more specific things.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself or about your experiences here?

A: Getting used to a new place far from my loved ones and starting my PhD was a daunting and difficult experience, but having the support from my advisor, new friends and the entire GERS community greatly contributed to my success throughout these past years.

The College of Engineering’s Graduate Engineering Research Scholars (GERS) is celebrating its 25^th anniversary in the 2024/2025 academic year. The program was established to recognize excellence in research and/or scholarship and to enhance the experiences and opportunities of graduate students from underrepresented groups in the College of Engineering.

Besides offering financial support, GERS empowers students by facilitating community gatherings for peer support, provides professional development opportunities and connects fellows with resources on and off campus for their advancement as scholars.