About
Mingsong Zhu is a PhD student at the University of Queensland with a research focus on helminths. His current work involves developing CRISPR-based diagnostics for Schistosoma (blood fluke) infections and applying functional genomics to investigate gene functions in parasites. He is particularly interested in advancing molecular tools that can support both fundamental parasitology research and the diagnosis of neglected tropical diseases.
Before starting his PhD, Mingsong worked extensively on point-of-care diagnostic technologies for infectious diseases. His previous research focused on using nanomaterials, lateral flow assays (LFA), and molecular diagnostics to enable rapid detection of diseases such as brucellosis, folic acid deficiency, and COVID-19. He has hands-on experience in synthesizing functional nanomaterials, designing paper-based diagnostic devices, and developing biosensors for field use.