Whether collaborating internally with his colleagues or externally with partners, Dr Zhang Hao’s approachable and welcoming demeanor helps facilitate smooth communication.

The roots of his collaborative spirit can be traced back to his doctoral studies in the Netherlands. Hao played active roles as a primary researcher in international projects involving universities and research institutes from both the Netherlands and the United States.

“Although the emails from the professors were very concise, they often contained nuances that required thorough follow-up research on my part, which pushed me to continually sharpen my communication skills,” he says.

Hao engaged actively with his peers and professors. His willingness to connect and explore experiences beyond the classroom earned him the honorary title of the most welcome Chinese person in the department.

Intellectual curiosity has driven Hao from an early age. He vividly remembers a pharmaceutical chemistry lecture during his junior year focusing on the molecular structure of omeprazole, a common stomach medication. The ability to understand atomic transformations at the microscopic level fascinated him. He was attracted to how medicinal chemistry integrates basic scientific knowledge with practical applications.

In 2020, Hao received a call from Jacobio’s HR department. Although unfamiliar with the company at that time, he was intrigued by the groundbreaking work of the founders in developing icotinib hydrochloride. He accepted an offer and became a founding member of Jacobio’s Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) department.

Forced to manage diverse requirements, Hao and his team invested significant effort in understanding the context and progress of each project. The strong communication and learning skills he honed in the Netherlands proved invaluable in his new role.