Jiayi Zhao was born in Hangzhou, China. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from Zhejiang University of Technology, where she developed a solid foundation in organic synthesis and analytical techniques. In 2022, she began her Master’s studies at the Southern University of Science and Technology under the supervision of Prof. Chuan He. Her master’s research focused on asymmetric catalysis and boron chemistry, with particular emphasis on the design and synthesis of chiral organoboron compounds and their applications. In November 2025, she joined the Feringa group as a PhD student at the University of Groningen. Her research focuses on the origin of homochirality, aiming to understand how symmetry breaking and chiral amplification can emerge from simple chemical systems. Through her work, she is interested in connecting fundamental organic chemistry with broader questions related to prebiotic chemistry and the emergence of molecular complexity.
