Group Members "The Zhang Gang"
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Qing Zhang
Email: qing_zhang@ucsb.edu
2021-Present: Postdoctoral Associate
Qing received his Ph.D. from Lanzhou University under the supervision of Prof. Yong-Qiang Tu. His doctoral research focused on asymmetric catalysis and the total synthesis of natural products. His current research interests include carbohydrate chemistry, stereoselective glycosylation, and the development of new synthetic methodologies for complex glycans and glycosylated bioactive molecules.
Dr. Youshao Tu
Email: youshao_tu@ucsb.edu
2025-Present: Postdoctral Reseacher
Youshao joined in October 2025 and he is currently a postdoctoral researcher. In his spare time, Youshao enjoy playing basketball.
Dr. Samim Sahaji
Email: ssahaji@ucsb.edu
2026-Present: Postdoctral Researcher
Samim Sahaji is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Prof. Liming Zhang’s group at UC Santa Barbara, where he joined in December 2025. He earned his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the Bose Institute, India, under the supervision of Prof. A. K. Misra, with research focused on stereoselective oligosaccharide synthesis. His research interests include carbohydrate chemistry, glycosylation methodology, and functional glycans.
Graduate Students
Phil Kohnke
Email: pkohnke@chem.ucsb.edu
2021-Present: Graduate Student
Phil earned his B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.S. from Virginia Tech before spending four years in industry. He joined the Zhang lab in fall of 2021, where his research has focused on asymmetric catalysis and, more recently, the use of chiral sulfinamides to construct unnatural amino acids. Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time with his cats and girlfriend.
Jielin (Barry) Yang
Email: jyang@chem.ucsb.edu
2022-Present: Graduate Student
Jielin Received his B.S. from University of California, Irvine in 2022 with the guidance of Prof. Vy Dong. Refusing to leave California after spoiled by the amazing weather, he joined Zhang lab the same year in December as a graduate student. During his free time, he likes to discover new restaurants and eat…
Youwei Yin
Email: youwei_yin@ucsb.edu
2024-2025: Undergraduate Research Assitant
2025-Present: Graduate Student
Youwei earned his B.S. from Xiamen University in 2025 under the guidance of Prof. Longwu Ye and worked at UCLA under the guidance of Prof. Ohyun Kwon during 2023-2024. He joined Zhang Lab in 2024 as a research assistant and become a graduate student in September 2025. His research focuses on designing ligand with ionic directing group and Au(I)-catalyzed desymmetration reactions. Outside the lab, Youwei loves Rock and Hip-Hop music and enjoys making them. He also enjoys teaching and learning different languages. Besides, Youwei is a soccer player and a crazy fan of Manchester United. He goes to the gym every day to workout and dreams of becoming a bodybuilder.
Scott L’Heureux
Email: scottjlheureux@ucsb.edu
2026-Present: Graduate Student
Scott joined the Zhang lab in January 2026. He previously did research with Dr. Daniel Bercovici at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 2023. His research interests include mechanistic investigation and organometallic catalysis. After a long day in the lab, Scott can be found weightlifting, running, reading, gaming, or spending time with loved ones.
Undergraduates and Exchange Researchers
Trishelle Tsai
Email: j_tsai@ucsb.edu
2023-present: undergrad, junior
Status: alive
Interest: transition metal catalysis, total synthesis
Likes: sleeping, eating, working in the lab
Hates: onions
Hobbies: singing, living
Weakness: memorizing, socializing, quantum mechanics
Linh Nguyen
Email: l_nguyen@ucsb.edu
2024-Present: Undergraduate Researcher
Linh Nguyen is a fourth year undergraduate student currently pursuing a B.S. in chemistry. She joined the Zhang Lab in 2024. Outside of lab she enjoys baking, going on walks, and watching tv with her friends.
Chris Choi
Email: choi539@ucsb.edu
2026-Present: Undergraduate Researcher
Chris is a third-year undergraduate at UC Santa Barbara, pursuing a major in chemistry. Outside of class and studying for chemistry, he enjoys surfing, hiking, and practicing his guitar.