The ever-growing global population and changing climate necessitate the development of resilient crops to secure higher yields and better quality through enhanced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. To achieve this goal, my research aims to deepen the understanding of the molecular and biochemical basis of plant defense against plant bacterial pathogens as well as develop and apply advanced genome editing technologies for gene discovery and plant trait improvement, with the ultimate goal of engineering economically important crops and vegetables for disease resistance.

• PhD in Horticulture and Crop Science, 2016, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH
• MS in Silviculture, 2011, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, China
• BS in Landscape Architecture, 2008, Shandong Agricultural University, China

• Ning Zhang, Joyce Gan, Lauren Carneal, Juliana González-Tobón, Melanie Filiatrault, Gregory B. Martin (2024). Helper NLRs Nrc2 and Nrc3 act co-dependently with Prf/Pto and activate MAPK signaling to induce immunity in tomatoes. The Plant Journal 117 (1): 7-22.
• Ning Zhang, Holly M. Roberts, Joyce Van Eck, Gregory B. Martin (2020). Generation and molecular characterization of CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutations in 63 immunity-associated genes in tomatoes reveal specificity and a range of gene modifications. Frontiers in Plant Science 11:10.
• Ning Zhang, Leah K. McHale, John J. Finer (2015). Isolation and characterization of "GmScream" promoters that regulate highly expressing soybean (Glycine max Merr.) genes. Plant Science 241:189-198.