Faculty

Education

2002 - 2008   Ph.D.  Evolutionary Biology,  the University of Chicago
1999 - 2002   M.S.   Genetics, Peking University
1995 -1999    B.S.    Cell Biology and Genetics, Peking University

Professional Experience

2022 - current  Changjiang Scholar Professor
2022 - current  Professor,School of Life Sciences, Peking University
2020 - 2021  Tenured Associate Professor，School of Life Sciences, Peking University
2013 - 2020  Principal Investigator，School of Life Sciences, Peking University
2008 - 2013,  Postdoc, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University

Editorial Activities

Associate Editor, Molecular Biology and Evolution
Associate Editor, hLife
Associate Editor, GPB
Associate Editor, Journal of Systematics and Evolution
Associate Editor, Quantitative Biology

Grant Review/Study Section Membership

Ad hoc grant reviewer for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Major Program, Key Program, and Excellent Young Scholar Program), Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Budget evaluation), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation


Ad hoc reviewer for the journals Molecular Biology and Evolution (>20 times), Nature Ecology & Evolution, Genome Research, PLOS Biology, PNAS, Nature Communications, Nature Protocols, Nucleic Acids Research, National Science Review, PLOS Genetics, Genome Biology and Evolution, Journal of Molecular Evolution, PLOS Computational Biology, Genetics, Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Gene, Communications Biology, Current Genomics, and Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics

Meeting Organizers and Seesion Chairs

December 2020 Session Chair, GPB Frontier Symposium 2020, Beijing, China

August 2019 Session Chair, The 5th National Drosophila Conference of China, Dalian, China

August 2019 Organization Committee & Session Chair, The 14th International Bioinformatics Workshop (IBW), Beijing, China

April 2018 Session Chair, The 1st AsiaEvo Conference, Shenzhen, China

December 2017 Organizer, 2017 Beijing Area Fly Meeting, Beijing, China

June 2017 Session Chair, Beijing Normal University Symposium of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Beijing, China

April 2017 Organizer, Symposium of Ecology and Evolution at Peking-Taiwan University Day, Beijing, China

Editorial Activities

Associate Editor, Molecular Biology and Evolution
Associate Editor, hLife
Associate Editor, GPB
Associate Editor, Journal of Systematics and Evolution

Research Interests

My laboratory is based on a "RNA regulation - molecular evolution - computational design" integrated research framework, focusing on the translation regulation mechanisms driven by RNA biology and their patterns in molecular evolution. The goal is to explore how RNA-mediated protein translation regulation plays a role in biological evolution. By combining molecular evolution, functional genomics, and bioinformatics approaches, we investigate the role of RNA regulatory elements (such as uORF, RNA editing/modifications, and non-coding RNAs) in gene expression and adaptive evolution, aiming to provide theoretical support and methodological tools for basic life sciences, disease mechanism analysis, and biotechnological innovation.

In terms of methodology, my laboratory adopts an interdisciplinary strategy, integrating experimental techniques and computational analysis. At the experimental level, we use Drosophila models, in vitro translation systems, and RNA biological multi-omics technologies. At the computational level, we apply deep learning models, evolutionary genomics analysis, and population genetics statistical methods. Ultimately, we aim to translate basic research into applied tools, such as vaccine design algorithms and cancer target prediction models. The laboratory's current research mainly includes the following three directions:

1. RNA biology-driven translation regulation mechanisms and evolutionary patterns: This research integrates basic molecular evolution theories, functional genomics, and bioinformatics analysis to explore how RNA editing (such as A-to-I, C-to-U), m6A modification, uORF, and other regulatory mechanisms dynamically control the translation process. We also investigate how the sequence evolution of these elements is linked to functional adaptation. Additionally, we aim to develop AI-based translation efficiency prediction models for the precise design of mRNA stability and translation efficiency. We will further explore the regulatory role of RNA editing and modifications in translation elongation, and how their abnormalities relate to diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders.

2. Combining molecular evolution and genomics to analyze the RNA regulatory basis of environmental adaptation: This project uses genomic data and phenotype association analysis of natural Drosophila populations to reveal the critical role of RNA expression regulation and element variation in species' adaptive evolution. It also extends the "evolutionary repair" theory, providing molecular evidence to clarify how natural selection shapes the evolutionary trajectory of RNA regulatory elements.

3. RNA virus evolution and intelligent vaccine design: By combining RNA biology and molecular evolution methods, the laboratory explores the evolutionary trends and driving forces of RNA viruses, such as the novel coronavirus. We are using cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence to analyze how the genomic evolution of the novel coronavirus affects its transmission and immune evasion mechanisms. Additionally, we are investigating RNA editing-mediated virus-host translation regulation interactions, unveiling new mechanisms of immune response, and optimizing vaccine antigen design by integrating translation regulation. Our goal is to develop AI and molecular evolution algorithms to optimize viral protein expression sequences and enhance vaccine efficacy.

Teaching

Genetics
Genetics Track
Molecular Biology