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Captain of Curiosity

Image of Feng Zhang

FENG ZHANG
Associate Professor
Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery


Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Science,
The University of Texas at Austin (1999)

Email: feng.zhang@austin.utexas.edu
Phone: 512-471-0942

Office: PHR 4.214E

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”
— Henry Ford

Mission

Our mission is to pioneer innovative solutions in biodegradable and non-biodegradable long-acting drug delivery systemscontinuous twin-screw melt granulation, and hot-melt extrusion for amorphous solid dispersions, and to advance the frontiers of drug delivery science through cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to scientific excellence.

We strive to develop transformative technologies that improve therapeutic outcomes and address unmet medical needs. By fostering a dynamic and inclusive research environment, we empower the next generation of scientists to lead with curiosityintegrity, and impact in a data-driven world.

About Our Group

Our training is designed to prepare students and postdoctoral researchers for successful careers beyond graduate school. We emphasize developing both scientific expertise and professional skills aligned with the expectations of the pharmaceutical industry.

Our lab is built on the principle that great science benefits from diverse perspectives. We recruit students and postdocs with backgrounds across disciplines and research experiences. By bringing together individuals with different ways of thinking, we create a dynamic environment for innovation in pharmaceutical sciences.

Research Area – HomePage

Research Area

“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.”
— Thomas Berger

Our research interests include:

  1. Long-acting implants (both biodegradable and non-degradable implants).
    • Materials science, process design, and physicochemical characterization.
    • Drug release modelling.
  2. Novel composition and process to prepare long-acting delivery systems to address some unmet medical needs.
  3. Continuous manufacturing of various drug delivery systems using twin-screw extrusion systems.
    • Granules for solid oral dosage forms
    • Amorphous solid dispersion to improve oral bioavailability
    • Powder blend for dry powder inhalation

News-HomePage

Milestone Moments – From Bench to Brilliance

Image of Coleman with Feng Zhang

🎓Coleman Earns PhD and Begins Career at the FDA!

Congratulations to Dr. Coleman, who has officially completed his PhD and is now starting an impactful career at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). His scientific rigor and commitment to translational research have been a cornerstone of our lab’s success. We’re excited to see the difference he’ll make in public health and drug delivery science!
– Aug 2025

Image of Angela with Feng Zhang

🎓Angela Graduates with PhD and Joins Eli Lilly!

We’re thrilled to share that Dr. Angela has successfully completed her PhD and is now beginning an exciting new chapter at Eli Lilly. Her dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit have left a lasting impact on our lab group. Congratulations, Angela — we’re proud of you and wish you continued success in your career!
– May 2025

Image of Adwait with other winners of the competition

🏆 Adwait Wins Community Choice Award at Empower Your Pitch 2025!

A big congratulations to Adwait Pradhan for winning the Community Choice Award for Excellence at UT Austin’s 2025 Empower Your Pitch competition! His compelling presentation, “Downsizing pills: can we make medicines easier to swallow?”, captivated the audience and showcased his innovative approach to improving patient experience in drug delivery. We’re proud to see Adwait representing our lab with such creativity and impact.
– April 2025

Collaborations – HomePage

Collaboration Chronicles

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Awesome Team – HomePage

Awesome Team

  1. “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.”
    — Steve Jobs

Active Minds

Image of Adwait Pradhan, a graduate student in College of Pharmacy at UT Austin.

ADWAIT PRADHAN
Graduate Student

Research Interest:
Melt Granulation | Twin screw processing | Amorphous Solid Dispersions

Image of Ziyue Zhong, a graduate student in College of Pharmacy at UT Austin.

ZIYUE ZHONG
Graduate Student

Research Interest:
Non-Biodegradable Long-acting Drug Delivery Systems | Drug Release Mechanism | Modelling/FE Simulation

Image of Hala Abdelhakk, a graduate student in College of Pharmacy at UT Austin.

HALA ABDELHAKK
Graduate Student

Research Interest:
Hot Melt Extrusion | PLGA Controlled Release Systems | Drug Delivery

Image of Niyati Kodange, a graduate student in College of Pharmacy at UT Austin.

NIYATI NIRANJAN KODANGE
Graduate Student

Research Interest:
Twin-Screw Melt Granulation | Rheology | Long-Acting Drug Delivery

Image of Anuj Biswas, a graduate student in College of Pharmacy at UT Austin.

ANUJ BISWAS
Graduate Student

Research Interest:
Biodegradable Implants | Drug Delivery System | Scientific Machine Learning | AI

Image of Yi Ren, a graduate student in College of Pharmacy at UT Austin.

YI REN
Graduate Student

Research Interest:
PLGA implants

Image of Nicholas Doluisio, a undergraduate student at UT Austin.

NICHOLAS JAMES (NICK) DOLUISIO
Undergraduate Research Assistant