Institut für Angewandte Physik

 

PD Dr. Fajun Zhang

Institut für Angewandte Physik

Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen

Auf der Morgenstelle 10

D - 72076 Tübingen

Room C7P28

Tel:07071-29 75242

Fax:07071-29 5110

Fajun.zhangspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

Working Experience

  • 11. 2005 - current: Project Leader (A.G. Prof. F. Schreiber), Permanent position since 09.2011. Institut für Angewandte Physik, Universität Tübingen
  • 06.2016: ILL Subcommittee membership (College 9)
  • 01.2015: Visiting Professor at Kyushu University, Japan
  • 07.2014: Habilitation in Experimental Physics, Universität Tübingen
  • 03.2004 - 10.2005: Alexander von Humboldt Fellow (A. G. Prof. B. Stühn). Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany
  • 03.2003 - 02.2004: Postdoctoral research assistant (Prof. A. M. Jonas) . Universite catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
  • 09.1997 - 10.2002: Doctoral candidate (Prof. T. He) . State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, China
  • 09.1993 - 07.1997: Bachelor degree / under graduate . Department of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, China

Recent Funded Projects:

  • 2020 - 2024 (BMBF) Dynamics of proteins in crowded environments on multiple length and time scales

  • 2017 – 2020 (DFG) Nonclassical nucleation pathways and growth kinetics of protein crystallization

  • 2016 – 2019 (DFG) Static and dynamic properties of antibody proteins in solution – the effect of crowding and charge-tuning

Teaching (NanoScience Homepage)

  • Praktikum for Physics and NanoScience (new schedule 2021/22 WS)
    • FTIR
    • Static/Dynamic light scattering
    • Protein Crystallization
  • Seminar: BioNano-Physics
    • protein crystallization
    • Self-assembly in NanoScale
    • biofouling and antibiofouling at interface
  • Analytical Methods in Biophysics and Nanoscience
    • Small angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS)
    • Static and dynamic light scattering (SLS/DLS)
    • X-ray photon-correlation spectroscopy (XPCS)
  • Lecture for NanoScience-I
    • Introduction to NanoScience
    • Unique properties in Nano
    • Tools: imaging and scattering techniques
    • Nano - systems: soft matter
    • Bottom-up: self-assembly
    • Applications

Research Projects & Team Members & Open positions

L) Trip to Grenoble, Geneva; R) ID2, ESRF, first user group for USAXS experiment

SAXS machine - XEUSS

Open Position:

The following projects, in particularly those funded by DFG, provide various opportunities for working in our group. If you are interested, please contact me directly.

  • lab replacements
  • Nanoscience Focus Module, Independent Study projects
  • Bachelor thesis for Physics and Nanoscience
  • Master/Diploma thesis
  • PhD projects

1. Tuning Interactions & Phase Behavior in Protein Solutions (Funded by DFG)

  Dr. Nafisa Begam, Anastasia V. Ragulskaya, Anita Girelli, Stefano Da Vela,

Kinetics & Dynamics of Arrested Phase Transition by XPCS

 
Stefano Da Vela, Michal Braun

Characterization of proteins and nanoparticles by SAXS/SANS

Principle publications: J. Phys. Chem. B. 2007, 111, 251; 2010, 114, 3776
Andrea Sauter, Michal Braun, Olga Matsarskaia

Reentrant condensation & liquid-liquid phase separation in protein solutions induced by multivalent counterions

LCST and Smart materials

Principle publications: Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008, 101, 148101; Proteins 2010, 78, 3450; Soft Matter 2012, 8, 1313
Marco Grimaldo, Michal Braun, Christian Beck

 

Mesoscopic Protein Clusters: Static & Dynamic

Principle publications: Soft Matter 2014, 10, 894

2. Non-classical nucleation pathways in protein crystallization

Andrea Sauter, Stefano Da Vela, Benedikt Sohmen

Nucleation pathways of protein crystallization followed by real-time SAXS and optical microscopy

see real time crystal growth with intermediate phase

BLG33mg/mL-CdCl2 17mM and 20mM

Principle publications: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 1485

Andrea Sauter, Stefano Da Vela, Benedikt Sohmen

Protein Crystal Structure and Bridging of Cations

Collaboration with Prof. Thilo Stehle at IFIB

Principle publications: J. Appl. Cryst. 2011, 44, 755
   

3. Functionalization of gold nanoparticles/Surfaces with PEG/OEG SAMs (Funded by DFG)

Madeleine Fries: tuning protein adsorption using charges

Gold nanoparticles decorated with OEG SAMs

Principle publications: J. Phys. Chem. A. 2007, 111, 12229; Eur. Biophys. J. 2008, 37, 551; J. Phys. Chem. C. 2009,113, 4839

Bacterial adhesion at OEG /PEG SAM coated gold substrate

Collaboration with Prof. F. Götz, Universität Tübingen

Principle publication: Int. J. Medical Microbiology 2014, 304, 949

4. Protein Dynamics in Aqueous Solution (Funded by DFG)

Collaboration with Dr. Tilo Seydel at the Institut Laue-Langevin

Macro Grimaldo: Protein dynamics studied by neutron spectroscopy

Christian Beck, Lena Buehl: Protein diffusion near phase boundaries

Principle Publication: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011, 108, 11819;

Soft Matter 2012, 8, 1628
   

5. Solution Scattering of Biological Macromolecules by SAXS/SANS

ExbB protein in the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli

Collaboration with Prof. Volkmar Braun at MPI for Developmental Biology.

Principle publications: Biochemistry, 2010, 49, 8721

Solution Scattering of Membrane Cofactor Protein CD46

Collaboration with Prof. Thilo Stehle at IFIB

Recent Publications (selected)

  1. A. Ragulskaya*, N. Begam, A. Girelli, H. Rahmann, M. Reiser, F. Westermeier, M. Sprung, F. Zhang*, C. Gutt*, F. Schreiber*, Interplay between kinetics and dynamics of liquid-liquid phase separation in a protein solution revealed by coherent X-ray spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2021, 12, 7085-7090.
  2. A. Girelli, H. Rahmann, N. Begam, A. Ragulskaya, M. Reiser, S. Chandran, F. Westermeier, M. Sprung, F. Zhang*, C. Gutt*, F. Schreiber*, Microscopic dynamics of liquid-liquid phase separation and domain coarsening in a protein solution revealed by X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2021, 126, 138004.
  3. N. Begam*, A. Ragulskaya, A. Girelli, H. Rahmann, S. Chandran, F. Westermeier, M. Reiser, M. Sprung, F. Zhang*, C. Gutt*, F. Schreiber*, Kineticsof network formation and heterogeneous dynamics of an egg white gel revealed by coherent X-ray scattering. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2021, 126, 098001.
  4. R. Maier, M. Fries, C. Buchholz, F. Zhang*, F. Schreiber, Human versus Bovine serum albumin: A subtle difference in hydrophobicity leads to large differences in bulk and interface behavior. Crystal Growth & Design 2021, 21, 5451-5459.
  5. M. R. Fries, M.W.A. Skoda, N. F. Conzelmann, R.M.J. Jacobs, R. Maier, N. Scheffczyk, F. Zhang, F. Schreiber, Bulk phase behaviour vs interface adsorption: Effects of anions and isotopes on β-lactoglobulin (BLG) interactions. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2021, 598, 430-443.
  6. M. R. Fries, N. F. Conzelmann, L. Günter, O. Matsarskaia, M.W.A. Skoda, R.M.J. Jacobs, F. Zhang, F. Schreiber, Bulk phase behavior vs interface adsorption: specific multivalent cation and anion effects on BSA interactions. Langmuir, 2021, 37, 139-150.
  7. E. Chi, H. Huang, F. Zhang*, T. He, Nematic phase of plate-like semicrystalline block copolymer single crystals in solution studied by small-angle X-ray scattering. Langmuir, 2021, 37, 2397-2405.
  8. R. Maier, G. Zocher, S. Da Vela, O. Matsarskaia, R. Schweins, M. Sztucki, F. Zhang*, T. Stehle*, F. Schreiber, Protein crystallization in the presence of a metastable liquid-liquid phase separation. Crystal Growth & Design, 2020, 20, 7951-7962.
  9. S. Da Vela, N. Begam, D. Dyachok, R. S. Schäufele, O. Matsarskaia, M. K. Braun, A. Girelli, A. Ragulskaya, A. Mariani, F. Zhang*, Schreiber, Interplay between glass formation and liquid-liquid phase separation revealed by the scattering invariant. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2020, 11, 7273-7278.
  10. N. Begam*, S. Da Vela, O. Matsarskaia, M. K. Braun, A. Mariani, F. Zhang*, F. Schreiber, Packing and dynamics of a protein solution approaching the jamming state. Soft Matter 2020, 16, 7751-7759.
  11. N. Begam*, O. Matsarskaia, M. Sztucki, F. Zhang*, F. Schreiber, Unification of lower and upper critical solution temperature phase behavior of globular protein solutions in the presence of multivalent cations. Soft Matter 2020, 16, 2128-2134.
  12. M. Grimaldo, F. Roosen-Runge, F. Zhang, F. Schreiber and T. Seydel, Dynamics of proteins in solution. Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics, 2019, E7.
  13. H. Ge, F. Zhang, H. Huang, T. He. Interplay between stereocomplexation and microphase separation in PS-b-PLLA-b-PDLA triblock copolymers. Macromolecules, 2019, 52, 1004-1012.
  14. C. Beck, M. Appel, M. Grimaldo, F. Roosen-Runge, F. Zhang, B. Frick, F. Schreiber and T. Seydel, Neutron spectroscopy on protein solutions employing backscattering with an increased energy range. Physica B: Condensed Matter, 2019, 562, 31-35.
  15. O. Matsarskaia, F. Roosen-Runge, G. Lotze, J. Möller, A. Mariani, F. Zhang and F. Schreiber, Tuning phase transitions of aqueous protein solutions by multivalent cations. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2018, 20, 27214-27225.
  16. M. K. Braun, A. Sauter, O. Matsarskaia, M. Wolf, F. Roosen-Runge, M. Sztucki, R. Roth, F. Zhang* and F. Schreiber, Reentrant Phase Behavior in Protein Solutions Induced by Multivalent Salts: Strong Effect of Anions Cl– Versus NO3–. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2018, 122, 11978-11985.
  17. J. Bleibel, M. Habiger, M. Lütje, F. Hirschmann, F. Roosen-Runge, T. Seydel, F. Zhang, F. Schreiber and M. Oettel, Two time scales for self and collective diffusion near the critical point in a simple patchy model for proteins with floating bonds. Soft Matter, 2018, 14, 8006-8016.
  18. C. Beck, M. Grimaldo, F. Roosen-Runge, M. K. Braun, F. Zhang, F. Schreiber and T. Seydel, Nanosecond Tracer Diffusion as a Probe of the Solution Structure and Molecular Mobility of Protein Assemblies: The Case of Ovalbumin. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2018, 122, 8343-8350.
  19. F. Zhang*, Nonclassical nucleation pathways in protein crystallization. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 2017, 29, 443002. (Invited review
  20. S. Da Vela, C. Exner, R. S. Schaufele, J. Moller, Z. Fu, F. Zhang* and F. Schreiber, Arrested and temporarily arrested states in a protein-polymer mixture studied by USAXS and VSANS. Soft Matter, 2017, 13, 8756-8765
  21. S. Da Vela, F. Roosen-Runge, M. W. A. Skoda, R. M. J. Jacobs, T. Seydel, H. Frielinghaus, M. Sztucki, R. Schweins, F. Zhang*, F. Schreiber, Effective Interactions and Colloidal Stability of Bovine γ-Globulin in Solution.  J. Phys. Chem. B 2017, 121, 5759-5769.
  22. M. K. Braun, M. Grimaldo, F. Roosen-Runge, I. Hoffmann, O. Czakkel, M. Sztucki, F. Zhang*, F. Schreiber, T. Seydel, Crowding-Controlled Cluster Size in Concentrated Aqueous Protein Solutions: Structure, Self- and Collective Diffusion, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2017, 8, 2590-2596.
  23. M. K. Braun, M. Wolf, O. Matsarskaia, S. Da Vela, F. Roosen-Runge, M. Sztucki, R. Roth, F. Zhang* and F. Schreiber, Strong Isotope Effects on Effective Interactions and Phase Behavior in Protein Solutions in the Presence of Multivalent Ions. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2017, 121, 1731-1739.
  24. S. Da Vela, M. K. Braun, A. Dorr, A. Greco, J. Moller, Z. Fu, F. Zhang* and F. Schreiber, Kinetics of liquid-liquid phase separation in protein solutions exhibiting LCST phase behavior studied by time-resolved USAXS and VSANS. Soft Matter, 2016, 12, 9334-9341.
  25. O. Matsarskaia, M. K. Braun, F. Roosen-Runge*, M. Wolf, F. Zhang*, R. Roth and F. Schreiber, Cation-Induced Hydration Effects Cause Lower Critical Solution Temperature Behavior in Protein Solutions. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2016, 120, 7731-7736.
  26. A. Sauter, F. Zhang*, N. K. Szekely, V. Pipich, M. Sztucki and F. Schreiber. Structural evolution of metastable protein aggregates in the presence of trivalent salt studied by (V)SANS and SAXS. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2016, 120, 5564-71.
  27. A. Sauter, F. Roosen-Runge, F. Zhang*, G. Lotze, R.M.J. Jacobs, F. Schreiber. Real-time observation of non-classical protein crystallization kinetics. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137(4), 1485-1491.

In total 93 peer-reviewed journal publications with ~3500 citations, h-index 33; 25 invited talks, ~20 oral and >30 poster presentations in conferences.

Highlight Reports

  1. A. Sauter, F. Roosen-Runge, F. Zhang, G. Lotze, R.M.J. Jacobs, F. Schreiber. Two-step nucleation in protein crystallization revealed by real-time SAXS. 2015 ESRF highlight, 82-83.
  2. A. Sauter, F. Roosen-Runge, F. Zhang, G. Lotze, R.M.J. Jacobs, F. Schreiber. Crystallization under supervision: Following protein crystallization in real-time. G.I.T. Laboratory Journal, 2015, 19, 26.
  3. F. Zhang, R. Roth, M. Wolf, F. Roosen-Runge, M. W. A. Skoda, R. M. J. Jacobs, R. Roth, M. Stzucki, and F. Schreiber. How YCl3 helps proteins crystallise. 2012 ESRF highlight CH4-Soft Condensed Matter, 77-78.
  4. M. Hennig, F. Roosen-Runge, F. Zhang, S. Zorn, F. Schreiber, M.W.A. Skoda, R.M.J. Jacobs, T. Seydel. Dynamics of proteins in solution around the denaturing transition: separation of global and internal modes. ILL 2012 Annual Report, 48-49.
  5. F. Roosen-Runge, F. Zhang, F. Schreiber, M. Hennig, R. M. J. Jacobs, M. Sztucki, H. Schober, T. Seydel. Protein self-diffusion in crowded solutions. ILL 2011 Annual Report, 45-46.
  6. F. Roosen-Runge, F. Zhang, S. Zorn, F. Schreiber, M. Hennig, T. Seydel, M. Maccarini, P. Fouquet, M. W. A. Skoda, R. M. J. Jacobs. Protein diffusion in crowded electrolyte solutions. ILL 2009 Annual Report, 58-59.
  7. R. M. J. Jacobs, M. W. A. Skoda, R. A. Martin, F. Zhang, S. Zorn, F. Schreiber. Protein repulsion at highly-curved interfaces. Synchrotron Radiation Daresbury, UK Annual Report 2007-2008 Highlight.
  8. “Salz verklumpt Proteine, mehr Salz bringt sie in Lösung” No. 87727, at the News Center of BIONITY.COM (http://www.bionity.com/news/d/87727).

Invited Talks

  1. Fajun Zhang. Tuning interactions in protein solutions towards controlled protein crystallization. 28th November, 2015, AK Butt seminar, Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Mainz. Invited by Dr. Si Wu.
  2. Fajun Zhang. Tuning interactions in protein solutions using charges. 27th January, 2015, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, Invited by Prof. R. Akiyama.
  3. Fajun Zhang. Tuning interactions in protein solutions towards controlled protein crystallization. 17th September, 2015, Soochow University, China. Invited by Prof. Steffen Duhm.
  4. F. Zhang, F. Roosen-Runge, M. Wolf, A. Sauter, M. Sztucki, R. Roth, F. Schreiber, Non-classical pathway for protein crystallization revealed by time-resolved SAXS. ESRF User Meeting, 3-5 February 2014, Grenoble, France.
  5. Fajun Zhang. Tuning interactions in protein solutions towards controlled protein crystallization. 28th January, 2014, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. Invited by Prof. Dr. Thomas Thurn-Albrecht.
  6. Fajun Zhang. Tuning phase behavior in protein solutions with metal ions. 4th November, 2013, TU-Darmstadt, Darmstadt. Invited by Prof. Bernd Stühn.
  7. Fajun Zhang. Non-Classical Pathway for Protein Crystallization. 13th July, 2013, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China, Invited by Prof. Jiang Zhao.
  8. F. Zhang, F. Roosen-Runge, A. Sauter, M. Wolf, R. Roth, M.W.A. Skoda, R. M. J. Jacobs, and F. Schreiber. Reentrant condensation, liquid-liquid phase separation and crystallization in protein solutions induced by multivalent metal ions. 33rd International Conference on Solution Chemistry, 7-12 July, 2013, Kyoto, Japan. Invited talk
  9. F. Zhang, M. Wolf, F. Roosen-Runge, R. Roth, F. Schreiber. Liquid-liquid phase separation in protein solutions induced by multivalent metal ions: A simple colloidal model. 7th Mini Symposium on Liquids: liquid-liquid phase separation and related topics on liquids. 5-6 July, 2013, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. Invited by Prof. Ryo Akiyama
  10. Fajun Zhang, Tuning phase behavior in protein solutions using metal ions. 21-24. 05. 2013, Gustav Stresemann Institut, Bonn, Workshop: The Science Case for the High Intensity SANS and Focusing SANS at the ESS. Organized by Henrich Frielinghaus, Jacques Jestin
  11. Fajun Zhang, Felix Roosen-Runge, Andrea Sauter, Marcell wolf, Michael Sztucki, Roland Roth, Frank Schreiber. Tuning phase behavior in protein solutions with multivalent metal ions. 12. 04. 2013 University of Stuttgart, invited by Dr. Laurent Helden.
  12. Fajun Zhang, Andrea Sauter, Marcell wolf, Felix Roosen-Runge, Michael Sztucki, Roland Roth, Frank Schreiber. Protein cluster as a building block of crystallization. CECAM, 04 – 06 March 2013 CECAM-HQ-EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland. Organizer: Steve Whitelam (Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA), Rob Jack (University of Bath, United Kingdom), Michael Hagan (Brandeis University, USA)
  13. Fajun Zhang. The Role of Multivalent Counterions in Protein Crystallization. APS March Meeting 2012, 27.02 – 02.03.2012. Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Chair: Steve Whitelam and Mike Hagan
  14. Fajun Zhang, Marcell Wolf, Felix Roosen-Runge, M. W. A. Skoda, R. M. J. Jacobs, Frank Schreiber. Tuning Interactions in Protein Solutions towards Controlled Protein Crystallization. 3rd Joint BER II and BESSY II User’s Meeting, 30.11 – 2.12.2011
  15. Fajun Zhang, Tuning Interactions in Protein Solutions towards Controlled Protein Crystallization. SANS Design for the European Spallation Source ESS AB, 10th – 11th May 2011, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht
  16. Fajun Zhang, Marcell Wolf, Felix Roogen-Runge, Maximilian W. A. Skoda, Robert M. J. Jacobs, and Frank Schreiber. Tuning interaction in protein solutions towards controlled protein crystallization. Universität Freiburg 12 April 2011 Invited by Prof. Günter Reiter
  17. Fajun Zhang, Georg Zocher, Andrea Sauter, Marcell Wolf, Felix Roosen-Runge, Thilo Stehle, Frank Schreiber. Charge-Controlled Protein Crystallization. DPG Spring Meeting, CPP 6.7, Dresden, March 13-18, 2011, Topical Talk
  18. Fajun Zhang, Marcell Wolf, Felix Roogen-Runge, Maximilian W. A. Skoda, Robert M. J. Jacobs, and Frank Schreiber. Charge-Controlled Protein Crystallization. Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, Changchun, China 24 Dec 2010 Invited by Prof. Yanchun Han
  19. Fajun Zhang, Marcell Wolf, Felix Roogen-Runge, Maximilian W. A. Skoda, Robert M. J. Jacobs, and Frank Schreiber. Liquid-liquid phase separation and crystallization in protein solutions induced by multivalent counterions. Jilin University, Changchun, China 22 Dec 2010 Invited by Prof. Simei Jiang
  20. F. Zhang, M. W. A. Skoda, R. M. J. Jacobs, S. Zorn, F. Schreiber, R. A. Martin, C. M. Martin, G. Goerigk, Protein interactions studied using SAXS & ASAXS. Seminar Talk at Institut Laue Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, France, 20 March 2007 Invited by Dr. Roland May