Brief introduction
It has been my passion to understand human behavior and foster positive change throughout my bachelor’s time. Imagine being able to understand human behavior, the brain, and computational techniques in an integrated way. That is what I have been pursuing throughout my academic journey.
Having studied for a bachelor’s degree and driven by the great depth, I am studying for a master’s degree in Neurobiology. In this transformative period, my focus expanded to include genomics, cell biology, and molecular biology. The experience I gained in Prof. Kong’s lab sparked my interest in bioinformatics. In addition, I learned bioinformatics with a focus on system biology under the guidance of Prof. Han. Currently, one paper has been published in Computers in Biology and Medicine, while another is currently under review in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. My commitment to improving computational methodologies is also demonstrated in the R package I have developed, which is now available on CRAN. I am now working on my master’s thesis.
I developed an ever-growing interest in unraveling the mysteries of the human mind as I progressed through my academic career. The excitement has been fueled by scholarships and participation in drafting two chapters in the application proposal for the National Natural Science Foundation of China. I am now well-prepared to make meaningful contributions to the scientific community.
For my time in Kong’s lab
I became a member of Prof. Kong’s lab in September 2021. She focused her lab on the immunological mechanisms of EAMG, where I learned about in vitro and in vivo experiments and immune mechanisms (but no hands-on experience).
The initial hurdle I faced during my exploration of neurobiology was the lack of biological knowledge. My dedicated efforts over several months helped me understand cell structures, functions, intercellular communication, and the intricate biochemical pathways and processes governing cellular functions. My deep dive into the subject matter resulted from this immersive exploration of organisms, which sparked my interest in exploring further.
Through this process, I acquired a solid foundation in biological concepts and gained a deeper understanding of the role of the immune system. Furthermore, I learned how to interpret experimental results like western blots, ELISAs, and flow cytometry, using tools and techniques that could validate my assumptions and hypotheses. Furthermore, I developed analytical skills, which are vital to uncovering the underlying mechanisms.
In collaboration with Yue Hao and Yifan He, I analyzed and interpreted proteomics data to identify novel pathways and uncover potential pathogenesis mechanisms in the EAMG rat model. As a result of this experience, I gained more than laboratory knowledge. I also contributed to the writing and revising of research papers, making graphs more readable.
Beyond the above, my involvement in Kong’s lab expanded to encompass a critical role in drafting two chapters for the application proposal to the National Natural Science Foundation of China. As a technical contributor, I contributed insights and helped select appropriate analysis methods. Additionally, I provided a comprehensive feasibility report based on the in silico validation.
During my time in Kong’s lab, I learned invaluable skills in experimental design, data analysis, and collaborative research, a foundation that I continue to build in my academic career.
My journey in bioinformatics
During conversations with my supervisor Prof. Kong, I was inspired to pursue bioinformatics. Since I have a strong background in statistics, she suggested I explore bioinformatics. This advice particularly resonated with me. Prof. Kong’s collaboration with Prof. Han drove this decision, since Han’s lab’s findings were meaningful and advanced.
The research topics in Han’s lab brought back memories of my grandmother, who raised me and dreamed of the day she could watch me earn a doctorate. Tragically, she suffered from cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive cancer that took a devastating toll on her slender tubes. A diagnosis of advanced cholangiocarcinoma with lung metastases, coupled with Alzheimer’s disease and heart failure followed by a stroke, was no reason to be optimistic. As her doctor advised, the treatments could worsen her suffering without providing optimal results. Eventually, the therapy became too exhausting for her, and she gave up.
With a strong interest in computational techniques and understanding human behaviors, I was inspired to pursue a career in medicine, especially in neurological diseases. I wanted to make a difference for those suffering from complex illnesses. To find cures and provide treatments for those suffering, I wanted to be a part of that effort. As a result, I started my journey into bioinformatics, officially joining Professor Han’s lab in November 2021.
Through an in-depth study of differentially expressed genes, mutations, biological regulation networks, and more, I developed a wealth of knowledge in bioinformatics. As part of my training, I gained knowledge of tools such as over-representation analysis (ORA), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), maftools, and signaling pathway impact analysis (SPIA). My skills gradually improved thanks to the generous guidance of individuals such as Xiangmei Li, Jiashuo Wu, and Ji Li.
After months of dedicated study, I successfully completed my first attempt, the DTSEA. Being still a newbie in bioinformatics made me realize that I had just begun a long journey ahead of me. It was rather hard for me to bask in the achievement; was I inadvertently contributing academic garbage to the world? Do I have a realistic chance of my method becoming useful in the near future?
However, such uncertainty gave me one opportunity to shift my focus. Instead of focusing on these questions, I refocused my energies on the real problem that DTSEA brought to me. I realized that the repurposed drugs did not meet my expectations, presenting a skewed risk-return trade-off laden with side effects. It became clear that most of the repurposed drugs did not consider the risk-return for patients, which could worsen their health than if they did not receive treatment at all.
Through my consideration, I refined my methods in my thesis, ensuring that the repurposed drugs would meet both clinical and medical requirements.
Thinking about my future career path
My research journey has been a convergence of interests spanning psychology, neuroscience, and bioinformatics. Although I initially intended to unravel human behavior through elegant approaches, my experiences in Prof. Kong’s and Prof. Han’s labs have revealed the vastness of my unknown, and have led me to realize that further preparation is necessary to gain a holistic view of diseases.
In my pursuit of equipping myself with the current knowledge, I am mindful of a traditional Chinese saying goes, There is a limit to our life, but to knowledge there is no limit. With what is limited to pursue after what is unlimited is a perilous thing; and when, knowing this, we still seek the increase of our knowledge, the peril cannot be averted. Having a deep understanding of the finite nature of life, I realize that finding a balance between learning and exhaustion is essential, since we will exhaust ourselves of energy long before we reach the end of our lives if we pursue unlimited knowledge.
One day, I ignited a new spark while serendipitously reading an answer posted on Zhihu. The question of Why not just measure the activation function of neurons in the human brain? drew my attention. They examined the activation functions of neurons in the hippocampus CA1 region using mice, which is of great significance for my future career. Integrating my foundational skills in reasoning, logic, and statistics, I look forward to researching on explainable artificial neural networks, as well as the neural networks in the human brain. That would be invaluable in understanding the functions of the human brain and could provide insights that could be used to develop treatments for neurological disorders.
Furthermore, I want to contribute to the study of neurological disorders one day after I obtain my PhD, particularly those affecting the ability of communication and inference deductive. After a lot of searching and comparing, I eventually discoered one disorder called pure alexia. While Wikipedia and ScienceDirect state that it is a rare disease, my observations indicate a higher prevalence among Chinese, the country where the short video (Tiktok) originated. Symptoms can be observed in college students as well as elderly individuals, highlighting the need for a deeper exploration.
Currently, psychologists conduct most of the current research on pure alexia. In the future, I aim to contribute to the field by exploring the multidisciplinary aspects of pure alexia. I expect to leverage my diverse background to bridge understanding gaps to uncover novel perspectives and solutions to this understudied neurological disorder someday.
In summary, I have a strong background and motivation in psychology, neurobiology, and bioinformatics, as well as a rich research experience and a diverse skill set. I have published papers, developed software, and contributed to grant proposals. I am eager to pursue my PhD and explore the mysteries of the human mind and the neural networks. I believe I can positively impact the scientific community and society with my passion and dedication.