2018-present Postdoctoral Fellow (1) Investigating the function of beneficial prion proteins in the mycobiome. (2) Uncovering mycobiome genetic composition that promotes host health and fitness. Advisor: Andrew G. Clark, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
2017-2018 Transitory Postdoctoral Position Studied the molecular basis of longevity by chemical biology approaches. Advisor: Meng C. Wang, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
GRADUATE RESEARCH
2011-2017 Ph.D. Thesis Research (1) Discovered a novel microbe-host chemical communication in regulating lipid metabolism, and delineated the complete signaling cascade in this regulation. (2) Investigated roles of host mitochondria in microbiota-induced longevity. (3) Developed a new chemical imaging technology by which small molecules can be visualized in live cells using alkyne-tag stimulated Raman scattering microscopy. (4) Elucidated functions of the LRH-1 receptor in regulating mitochondrial dynamics in mammalian systems. (5) Designed and performed a chemical mutagenesis screen to identify genes that regulate mitochondrial unfolded protein response. Advisor: Meng C. Wang, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
2010-2011 Ph.D. Rotation Research Applied synthetic biology approach to develop biosensors for detections of Gram type-specific bacteria in amoeba cells. Advisor: Adam Kuspa, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Established RNAi-based genetic screens for oxidative stress resistance and germline tumor protection in the nematode. Advisor: Meng Wang, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Investigated Potocki-Lupski syndrome & Smith-Magenis syndrome by a two-hybrid screening of RAI1 interacting targets in mice. Advisor: James Lupski, M.D., Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Studied the regulation of chromosome recombination by epigenetic modulation in yeast. Advisor: Gregory Ira, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Performed data mining for causative mutations from the variant output of whole-exome sequencing in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. Advisor: Penelope Bonnen, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
UNDERGRAD RESEARCH
2008 Summer Research Scholar Characterized the extracellular matrix remolding triggered by inflammatory factors in primary adipose tissue. Advisor: Kola Ajuwon, Ph.D., Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
2007-2009 Undergrad Independent Study (1) Characterized the expression and functions of the reproductive regulator Kisspeptin in avian and mammalian models. (2) Investigated mitochondrial biogenesis induced by ox-LDL in RAW264.7 macrophage cell line. Advisors: Chih-Hsien Chiu, Ph.D. and De-Shien Jong, Ph.D., National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.