Welcome to our Meet the Researchers blog series, where each post features one of the DarChemDN researchers sharing insights into their personal journey and professional life.
Today we introduce DC4 – Zhangfan Li!
Hi! My name is Zhangfan Li, and I come from Xiangyang, a historic city in central China known for its riverside scenery and rich cultural heritage. I’m currently based in Saarbrücken, Germany, where I’m part of the DarChemDN network.
Moving abroad for my studies has been a big part of my journey. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Dalian University of Technology in China, and later completed an MSc in Molecular Sciences at Radboud University in the Netherlands. Every new environment has been a challenge at first, but also a source of learning and inspiration—whether that’s understanding how things work in each lab, building new daily routines, or gradually finding a sense of connection in a different setting.
Work experience & research
I don’t have previous work experience outside academia, but these years of international study have shaped the way I work, think, and collaborate. I’m currently DC4 in the DarChemDN network, working in Professor Dora Tang’s lab, which is now based in Saarbrücken.
Future professional plans
To be honest, I don’t yet have a clear picture of what I want to do after my PhD—and I think that’s okay. It’s hard to know now what kinds of opportunities or environments will exist in three or four years, or how I might grow and change by then. But I do know that I want to work on something interesting. Whether that leads to academia, industry, or somewhere in between, I’m open to seeing where the journey takes me.
Hobbies
I wouldn’t say I have a strong “hobby”, but I do enjoy reading—especially when I can pair it with a warm drink and some quiet. It’s a simple joy that helps me recharge outside the lab.
Short project summary
I’m a PhD researcher in the Tang Lab at Saarland University, where we explore bottom-up approaches to synthetic biology. My project focuses on how compositional heterogeneity within coacervate-based compartments affects their internal dynamics and chemical behaviour. Coacervates serve as minimal, membraneless models of primitive cells, and I study how their internal organisation and chemical diversity influence reactivity, selectivity, and functionality. This research is closely connected to broader questions in synthetic biology and the origin of life, especially how complexity can emerge from soft, heterogeneous systems.
A day in my life
My day usually starts with a quiet cup of tea. Around noon, I have lunch with my lab mates at the Mensa, the university cafeteria. Depending on the day, I might be running experiments or joining meetings, and before I leave, I always take a few minutes to organise my notes and prepare for tomorrow. Evenings are calm: cooking, music, and a bit of screen time while I eat.
My take on synthetic biology
What fascinates me about synthetic biology is its integrative nature—bringing together chemistry, biology, and engineering to construct life-like systems from the bottom up. To me, synthetic biology is not only about mimicking biological functions, but also about exploring new strategies to organise matter, regulate reactions, and engineer systems with emergent, functional behaviours. I believe it offers powerful tools to deepen our understanding of life and to develop innovative solutions for addressing biological and societal challenges.
This blog series is set up by Stefan Georgiev, Xiuwn Lyu and Zhangfan Li – the DarChemDN outreach team.
Follow DarChemDN on LinkedIn and stay tuned for more updates on our journey in exploring the origins of life and the development of synthetic life forms!
