MIT's Linzixuan (Rhoda) Zhang Takes Home Top Honors at the 2024 Collegiate Inventors Competition

In an inspiring achievement, Linzixuan (Rhoda) Zhang, a doctoral candidate from the MIT Department of Chemical Engineering, has made headlines by clinching victory at the prestigious 2024 Collegiate Inventors Competition. She was awarded medals in both the Graduate and People’s Choice categories for her groundbreaking work on materials designed to stabilize nutrients in food—a critical step toward improving global health.

The annual Collegiate Inventors Competition, organized by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), showcases the innovative spirit of college and university student inventors. Finalists are given the opportunity to present their inventions to a distinguished panel, including members who have made significant contributions to the field of innovation.

Zhang's work in nutrient stabilization is not her first foray into the spotlight—she is a three-time recipient of the Koch Institute Image Awards over the past three years, and garnered recognition as a fellow at the MIT Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab in 2022. Her advisor, Ana Jaklenec, praised her dedication and creativity, emphasizing the societal impact her research could have.

Addressing a Dire Global Health Crisis

With nearly 2 billion people battling micronutrient deficiencies worldwide, particularly in iron, the urgency for effective solutions has never been more critical. Iron deficiency not only weakens immune systems but also poses serious developmental risks to children and pregnant women. The World Health Organization has advocated for food fortification as a viable strategy, yet many existing methods fail due to the instability and reactivity of essential nutrients during processing.

Zhang and her collaborator, Xin Yang, a postdoctoral associate at the Koch Institute, embarked on a mission to create innovative technologies for nutrient fortification that are not only effective but also accessible and sustainable. Their pioneering work led to the development of nutritional metal-organic frameworks (NuMOFs) and the launch of MOFe Coffee—the world's first iron-fortified coffee.

Transforming Daily Habits for Health

Inspired by the success of iodized salt in combating iodine deficiency, Zhang and Yang sought to replicate similar outcomes for iron, particularly in beverages like coffee and tea that typically hinder iron absorption. Their NuMOFs not only protect essential nutrients during food processing but also enhance their absorption in the body.

MOFe Coffee represents a practical and palatable solution that could significantly help individuals, especially women, who are at a higher risk for iron deficiency. The research team has ambitious plans to expand their technology to address other nutritional deficiencies, ultimately striving for improved health equity on a global scale.

Fast-Tracking Change in Global Health

Looking to the future, Zhang and Yang are focusing on both the commercialization of MOFe Coffee and ongoing enhancements to ensure optimal nutrient stability without compromising flavor. Their recent triumph at the CIC competition enables them to accelerate their patent application process with the USPTO, an essential next step for attracting investors and scaling their initiative.

This pioneering effort holds transformative potential—not only does it offer a much-needed boost to global nutrition, but it also positions Zhang and her team as frontrunners in the quest to address one of the world’s most pressing health challenges. As their work progresses, they remain dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of millions facing nutritional deficiencies.