Zachary Yousef is a recent graduate of Rutgers University, where he earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering while completing premedical studies. During his time at Rutgers, Zachary developed an interest in research that connects engineering methods with clinically meaningful questions. His research experiences have included computational biology, data analysis, and studies in sleep medicine. Working alongside clinical and engineering mentors, he explored how quantitative approaches can be used to better understand patient outcomes and inform future interventions. Alongside research, Zachary spent thousands of hours in a Level I trauma center, where he engaged closely with how care teams respond to patients during moments of urgency, uncertainty, and vulnerability. This clinical exposure deepened his appreciation for translational research that can improve patient care.

As a Fulbright Fellow, Zachary will conduct research at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School in the Department of Physiology under the mentorship of Prof. Antonios Chatzigeorgiou. His project will examine the relationship between sarcopenia and metabolic liver disease, with a focus on understanding why muscle wasting develops alongside metabolic dysfunction and whether targeted interventions may help prevent or reverse this decline. Through murine models, imaging, and proteomic approaches, Zachary hopes to contribute to research connecting metabolism, inflammation, muscle health, and chronic disease. For Zachary, Greece is also personally meaningful. His mother was born there, and the opportunity to live and conduct research in Athens represents both an academic and cultural homecoming. In his spare time, Zachary enjoys running, weightlifting, hiking, and cooking. During his Fulbright year, he looks forward to improving his Greek language skills, building lasting relationships with his colleagues and community, and experiencing Greece through its food, landscapes, history, and everyday conversations.