Yining “Elena” Zhang

Saptarsi is a third-year PhD student at Baylor College of Medicine, where he studies the biology of chronic myeloid leukemia. His research focuses on identifying and validating leukemic stem cell–specific targets and leveraging them for novel therapeutic strategies that more effectively eradicate disease-driving cells. Outside the lab, he loves travelling—having visited ten different U.S. cities in 2025—along with cooking, listening to music, going for walks, and watching sunsets.