see.isbscience.org/projects/julia-zhang/Julia Zhang
Hello! I’m Julia Zhang, a junior at Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington.
I’m interested in pursuing studies in environmental science and have a deep curiosity for biological science. Being a part of the 2024-2025 ISB STiSA cohort has contributed to this interest by expanding my knowledge and perception of what a “system” can be in biology, and pushing me to think more about the interconnectedness of seemingly independent factors in the environment.
Following this train of thought, I decided to investigate possible ways to utilize natural systems to work towards food security in the state of Washington – specifically, I looked at wheat, a major export and source of food production. By leveraging existing soil bacteria and their natural production of antifungal compounds, I hoped to explore how this system could be used to combat fungal diseases that decimate wheat yield with minimal environmental damage, monetary cost, and food waste – something that’s difficult to achieve with common approaches like crop burning, crop cycling, pesticides and fungicides, and genetic engineering.
In my free time, I enjoy playing the violin as a pick-me-up, running cross country through forest trails, and painting little creatures on stones and shells in the garden!
Check out Julia’s project below!
JuliaZhang2025_Webshowcase