Liquid-liquid phase separation drives the formation of membrane-less organelles such as stress granule. Aberrant protein phase transition leads to the formation of fibrils and aggregates implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these aberrant phase transitions and leveraging our understanding of phase transition to develop strategies with therapeutic potential to prevent and reverse these toxic events. We use a combination of biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and biophysics techniques to tackle these problems.

PhD in Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania - 2011
BS, Pehing University, Beijing, China 2005