When a complex biologic therapy moves toward human trials, countless data points must align before a single dose is administered. At Pfizer’s Andover campus, Kennedy College of Sciences alum Fang Zhang ’15, ’20 helps ensure they do.
As a senior scientist in analytical research and development, Zhang is part of what he describes as Pfizer’s “large molecule engine” — the teams responsible for advancing vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and other large-molecule therapies. His group serves as a kind of scientific checkpoint before new therapies move into nonclinical or clinical use.
“We are the gatekeeper,” Zhang says.
In practice, that means ensuring that experimental medicines are pure, stable and structurally sound before they reach patients. It also means working against accelerated timelines as the company enters new therapeutic areas.
Bringing a new therapy to market, Zhang says, “takes thousands of people’s effort.” At Pfizer, that collaboration spans scientists, engineers and regulatory experts working in concert to move a product forward.
For Zhang, that responsibility builds on the leadership principles he began shaping at UMass Lowell. As a graduate student in chemistry and president of the Graduate Student Association, he often described leadership in simple terms: care first, then put that care into action.
“For me, the ultimate goal is using my impact to shape our society in whichever way to make it slightly better than yesterday,” he says. “Now, I’m just more equipped with the tools or the how-to to get there.”
Zhang arrived at UML in 2013 to pursue a master’s degree in chemistry after earning his bachelor’s degree in China. He knew little about the university at the time. What he found, he says, was a place that lived up to its mission.
“It is what a school is supposed to be — a place to teach people, to mentor people, to give them opportunities to succeed, as well as to fail safely,” Zhang says.
Zhang immersed himself in campus life, serving as an orientation ambassador, working with the International Students and Scholars Office and founding the Pair-Up Program to connect international and domestic students. He went on to serve as president of the Graduate Student Association and received the Chancellor’s Medal for Diversity and Inclusion and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award.
After completing his Ph.D. in biochemistry, Zhang spent time at UMass Lowell’s Massachusetts Biomanufacturing Center, working on biopharmaceutical process evaluation. In 2021, he joined Pfizer’s Andover site, where his faculty adviser, Chemistry Professor Jin Xu, had previously worked.
“He told me that Andover has a lot of good people who care and would give me an opportunity to grow,” Zhang recalls. “That resonated with me, because that’s exactly what UMass Lowell is about.”
At Pfizer, Zhang has embraced mentorship roles. He helps lead his division’s internship program, which regularly recruits co-ops and interns from UMass Lowell, and he mentors colleagues and early-career scientists. He has also served as an adjunct instructor in the Kennedy College, teaching graduate-level courses and sharing industry perspectives.
He often hears a common question from students: How can I be successful?
“One thing people often overlook is really having a clear picture of their direction,” says Zhang, who notes that in an era of rapid technological change, students can become distracted. “There’s nothing wrong with learning AI or digital technology. But it should not be at the cost of one’s principle or expertise.”
While completing graduate school, Zhang served six years in the U.S. Army Reserve, committing at least one weekend a month to training along with extended annual exercises.
“To work with such a diverse group and try to achieve goals with the same mission in mind — that was a very memorable lesson,” says Zhang, who has since become a naturalized U.S. citizen.
While his career has progressed from graduate researcher to industry scientist, Zhang ultimately sees his future in developing those around him.
“I see myself becoming a people leader in the industry, to empower people to become a better version of themselves,” he says. “And together as a team, we deliver the outcome and impact.”
Zhang remains closely connected to his alma mater. In 2023, UMass Lowell named him a Young Alumni Award recipient, recognizing his impact through research, service leadership and mentorship.
“When people come to UMass Lowell, whether it’s their first step or an intermediate step, they become a better person,” he says. “And what they take with them is a support network that stays with them wherever they go.”