Chang Lab

Hi, I’m Dingran Chang. I was born and raised in Shanxi, China, and earned my B.Sc. from China Pharmaceutical University in 2012. I moved to Canada for graduate studies and completed my Ph.D. in Biochemistry at McMaster University in 2018 under the mentorship of Prof. Yingfu Li, where I developed functional DNA-based biosensors for bacterial infections. After my Ph.D., I joined Prof. Shana Kelley’s group at the University of Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow, where I developed high-dimensional aptamer selection technologies and contributed to the development of reagent-free electrochemical sensors. In 2023, I moved to the United States and became a Research Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University, continuing my work with Prof. Shana Kelley on sensors for continuous health monitoring. In 2025, I began my independent career as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Kansas.  My lab focuses on developing functional nucleic acids, modulating receptor affinity and kinetics, and exploring their applications in diagnostics, therapeutics, and beyond. Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, running, and being in nature.