PhD and master studentship positions are open for the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 in the lab of Dr. Zhipeng (Toby) Tao, Department of Nutrition and Food Science at Texas Woman’s University. The chosen candidate will be supported by full scholarships.
Dr. Tao’s lab seeks to understand the molecular mechanism of cancer and metabolic diseases (obesity, liver disease, and type 2 diabetes) and develop mechanism-based strategies for early diagnosis and treatment of the diseases. Specifically, we are using chemical biology, molecular biology, and physiological methodologies to study the occurrence and function of protein fatty acylation in the development of cancer and metabolic diseases and drug resistance using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models as well as human specimens (ACS Chemical Biology, 2026; Nature Communications, 2022; Oncogene, 2023; Elife, 2025). At the same time, the lab aims to elucidate the mechanism of signal transduction in human diseases (Redox Biology, 2023; iScience, 2023; Cell Death Discovery, 2021; Cell Death & Disease, 2018), providing a strategic rationale for the treatment of these diseases.
Texas Woman's University (TWU) is a public, coeducational university in Denton, Texas, with two health science center-focused campuses in Dallas and Houston. Dr. Tao is committed to the academic success of students in his lab, which is enhanced by his education and training at renowned universities (Virginia Tech and Harvard University Medical School). Under Dr. Tao’s supervision, the trainees of Dr. Tao have been admitted into top-tier medical schools and graduate schools.