Lifeng Zhou received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University in May 2017. Subsequently, he conducted postdoctoral research at the RNA Institute, State University of New York at Albany, where he designed a DNA Nanoswitch for viral RNA detection. In July 2021, he joined the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and the Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an IGB Fellow, where he developed a DNA NanoGripper for capturing SARS-CoV-2. In March 2023, he joined the Department of Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics at Peking University as an Assistant Professor. In March 2026, he joined the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology as an Associate Professor. To date, he has published over 20 papers in high-impact journals such as Science Robotics, Science Advances, ASME JMR, Mechanism and Machine Theory, ACS Nano, Nano Letters, and Small.

Research Area：
◆ Robotics: kinematics, dynamics and control; robotic experimental systems for biological, chemical, and medical research
◆ Compliant Mechanisms: topology optimization for nonlinear large deformation; rigid-flexible coupling; precision instruments and microscale robotics
◆ DNA Nanorobotics: molecular mechanisms; reconfigurable nanorobots; nanoparticle capture and assembly
 
Work Experience：
◆ Mar. 2026-present，

Southern University of Science and Technology,  Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering

◆ Mar. 2023-Feb. 2026
Peking University, Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics.

 ◆ Jul. 2021-Feb. 2023
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign，IGB Fellow Postdoctoral Associate, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and the Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Lab. 

◆ Jul. 2017-Jun. 2021,

State University of New York at Albany，Postdoctoral Associate, the RNA Institute.
 
Education:
◆ May. 2017  Ph.D. ME, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

◆ Mar. 2012  M.S., Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China
◆ Jun. 2009  B.S., ME & Automation, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China

 
Professional Recognition：
◆ 2024 Excellent Undergraduate Thesis Mentorship, Peking University
◆ 2016 Presidential Fellowship, The Ohio State University
◆ 2015 Ahuja Endowed Graduate Fellowship, Dept. of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University

 
Representative Books and Papers:
◆ An, Y., Wu, F., Xiong, Y., Zhang, C., Dai, J. S., and Zhou, L., 2026, “Designer DNA-Based Machines,” SmartBot, 2(1), p. e70029. [Cover Article, Corresponding]

◆ Zhou, L., Xiong, Y., Dwivedy, A., Zheng, M., Cooper, L., Shepherd, S., Song, T., Hong, W., Le, L. T. P., Chen, X., Umrao, S., Rong, L., Wang, T., Cunningham, B. T., and Wang, X., 2024, “Bioinspired Designer DNA NanoGripper for Virus Sensing and Potential Inhibition”, Science Robotics, 9(96), p. eadi2084. [Co-first Author, Co-Corresponding]

◆ Zhou, L., Hayden, A., Chandrasekaran, A. R., Vilcapoma, J., Cavaliere, C., Dey, P., Mao, S., Sheng, J., Dey, B. K., Rangan, P., and Halvorsen, K., 2021 “Sequence-Selective Purification of Biological RNAs Using DNA Nanoswitches”, Cell Reports Methods, 1(8), p. 100126. [Cover Article]

◆ Zhou, L., Valsangkar V. A., Yan, M., Chandrasekaran, R. A., Feldblyum, J. I., R., Sheng, J., and Halvorsen, K., 2021, “A mini DNA-RNA Hybrid Origami Nanobrick”, Nanoscale Advances, D1NA00026H. [First Author, Co-Corresponding]

◆ Zhou, L.; Chandrasekaran, A. R.; Punnoose, J. A.; Bonenfant, G.; Charles, S.; Levchenko, O.; Badu, P.; Cavaliere, C.; Pager, C. T.; Halvorsen, K., 2020,  “Programmable Low-Cost DNA-Based Platform for Viral RNA Detection”, Science Advances, 2020, eabc6246.

◆ Zhou, L., Marras, A. E., Huang, C.-M., Castro, C. E., and Su, H.-J., 2018, “Paper Origami-Inspired Design and Actuation of DNA Nanomachines with Complex Motions,” Small, 14(47), p. e1802580.

◆ Zhou, L., Su, H.-J., Marras, A. E., Huang, C.-M., and Castro, C. E., 2016, “Projection Kinematic Analysis of DNA Origami Mechanisms Based on a Two-Dimensional TEM Image”, Mechanism and Machine Theory, 109, pp. 22–38.

◆ Zhou L., Marras A. E., Castro, CE, Su, H., 2016, “Pseudorigid-Body Models of Compliant DNA Origami Mechanisms”, ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 8(5):051013-051013-11. doi:10.1115/1.4032213.

◆ Zhou, L., Marras, A. E., Su, H.-J, and Castro, C. E., 2015, “Direct Design of An Energy Landscape with Bistable DNA Origami Mechanisms”, Nano Letters, 15 (3), pp. 1815–1821.

◆ Zhou, L., Marras, A. E., Su, H.-J., and Castro, C. E., 2013, “DNA Origami Compliant Nanostructures with Tunable Mechanical Properties”, ACS nano, 8, pp. 27–34.