ESP Biography



BEN ZHANG, Current 3rd-year medical student, Columbia alum




Major: Biology

College/Employer: Columbia University

Year of Graduation: 2018

Picture of Ben Zhang

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Not Available.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

S1009: COVID-19 Vaccines: Separating Fact from Fiction in Splash Fall 2021 (Nov. 14, 2021)
In this course, we'll go over all things COVID vaccine-related, including how they work, how they were developed so quickly, and why the concept of "long-term side effects" is so misleading. Come with questions!


S875: The Origin of Life on Earth in Splash Fall 2019 (Oct. 27, 2019)
How did something as complex as life originate on planet Earth? Nobody knows for sure, but we'll discuss several theories and experiments in this class, including panspermia, the RNA World, and the primordial soup hypothesis.


X876: Careers in Medicine and Health Sciences in Splash Fall 2019 (Oct. 27, 2019)
"Nobody knew healthcare could be so complicated" - 45th President of the United States But it does't have to be that way! In this class, we'll go over the various careers and jobs available in healthcare, ranging from phlebotomy to nursing to surgery. For each position, we'll talk about things like basic job responsibilities, the education and training required, and average incomes. Additionally, we'll talk about what you can do right now to prepare to enter this growing and high-demand field!


X734: Adulting 101: From Taxes to Job Applications in Splash Fall 2018 (Oct. 28, 2018)
Most schools don't teach you real-life skills like how to file your taxes, what your credit score is, and how to write a resume and apply for jobs, so come learn them here!


H754: A Brief History of the English Language in Splash Fall 2018 (Oct. 28, 2018)
The English language has a rich history dating back over a thousand years. In this class, we'll explore major events and trends that have shaped the language into what it is today. We'll combine British history and historical linguistics to answer question such as: - Where does "Ye Olde" come from? - Why is English pronunciation so inconsistent? - Why meat from a deer called venison, and meat from a cow called beef? - How come English doesn't have genders like French or German? Everyone is welcome!


X759: Careers in Medicine and Health Sciences in Splash Fall 2018 (Oct. 28, 2018)
"Nobody knew healthcare could be so complicated" - 45th President of the United States But it does't have to be that way! In this class, we'll go over the various careers and jobs available in healthcare, ranging from phlebotomy to nursing to surgery. For each position, we'll talk about things like basic job responsibilities, the education and training required, and average incomes. Additionally, we'll talk about what you can do right now to prepare to enter this growing and high-demand field!


S812: The Origin of Life on Earth in Splash Fall 2018 (Oct. 28, 2018)
How did something as complex as life originate on planet Earth? Nobody knows for sure, but we'll discuss several theories and experiments in this class, including panspermia, the RNA World, and the primordial soup hypothesis.


H813: Greek Mythology: A Timeline in Splash Fall 2018 (Oct. 28, 2018)
When did the Trojan War take place? Was Helen of Troy alive at the same time as Heracles? Who sailed with Jason on the Argo? Find out the answers to these questions, and more, in this class!


S644: Bacterial Biotechnology in Splash Spring 18 (Mar. 31, 2018)
Bacteria do much more than just causing infections and spoiling food! In this class, you'll learn about how we can engineer bacteria to do all sorts of cool things - from cleaning up oil spills to making plastic, and even producing medications!


S700: Bathroom Chemistry in Splash Spring 18 (Mar. 31, 2018)
Have you ever forgotten to bring your phone to the bathroom, and ended up bored enough to read through the ingredients list on a shampoo bottle? Curious about what those ingredients do? Look no further than this class - we'll go over critical components of everyday items like toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and bleach!


X702: How To Be An Adult: From Taxes to Job Applications in Splash Spring 18 (Mar. 31, 2018)
Most schools don't teach you real-life skills like how to file your taxes, what your credit score is, and how to write a resume and apply for jobs, so come learn them here!


S604: The Science of Food Additives in Splash Fall 2017 (Nov. 04, 2017)
Ever seen the ingredients in Diet Coke and wondered what potassium benzoate was used for? Or why Subway eventually phased out azodicarbonamide in their bread? You'll find out in this class!