Jingfang (Kelly) Zhang, a doctoral student in the Informatics PhD Program, passed away on January 3, 2026, after a formidable battle with cancer.
Jingfang was a resilient and determined scholar. She earned her MSIM from the iSchool before joining the Informatics PhD Program. During her time in the program, she was an active member of the Informatics Doctoral Student Association and remained deeply committed to her academic work.
Jingfang began her doctoral studies under the advisement of Professor Gabriel Popescu, who recognized her talent, self‑directed learning, and vision for applying machine learning in biomedical sciences. Their collaboration resulted in multiple peer‑reviewed publications, on which Jingfang was first author. Following Professor Popescu’s unexpected passing at the conclusion of her second year in the program, Jingfang continued her studies under the formal supervision of Prof. Catherine Best‑Popescu.
Jingfang’s research bridged machine learning, cancer histopathology, and biophotonics, and she made meaningful contributions across these areas. She also mentored several undergraduate researchers and collaborated with colleagues across campus, bringing both rigor and enthusiasm to her work.
Later in her doctoral journey, Jingfang faced significant health challenges of her own. Even so, she persisted in her studies and made a strong effort to re‑engage in Fall 2025. She never lost sight of her goal of completing her degree, and her determination and seriousness of purpose inspired many who worked with her.
Jingfang was also a devoted mother and spoke often of her pride in her two sons, Kevin and George . We hold them, and all who loved her, in our thoughts during this difficult time.
We honor Jingfang’s perseverance, her intellectual rigor, and the resolve she brought to her academic journey. She will be missed by many in our community.
“Jingfang was a vibrant and dedicated student whose research in machine learning and cancer imaging broke new ground. She brought warmth, curiosity, and generosity to our lab community, and she will be deeply missed.”
Professor Best-Popescu