Our lab is interested in developing new tools for mapping 3D organization of biomolecules and probing biological processes in the tissue and organism.

Complex biological systems are delicate machines consist of building blocks (such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates) that are precisely organized in the nanoscale. This presents a fundamental challenge for humanity to understand the biology and/or pathology underlying these complex systems. To gain the insight into physiological/pathological functions, one might need to map a large diversity of nanoscale building blocks, over a wide spatial scale. To tackle this challenge, we are developing a set of novel technologies that enable large scale visualization of biological samples with nanoscale precision, by physically expanding the sample rather than magnifying the light from the sample via lenses. This principle is called expansion microscopy (ExM). By combining various material engineering and chemical approaches, we are advancing ExM-based tools that may elucidate biological insights into the brain and other complex systems, such as cancer and infectious diseases.

Education

B.S. Chemistry, 2009, Sun Yat-sen University
PhD Chemistry, 2014, University of Alberta

Postdoctoral Training

2017, Bioengineering/Pathology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Zhao Biophotonics Laboratory
Carnegie Mellon University
202A Mellon Institute
Department of Biological Sciences
4400 Fifth Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: (412) 268-8236
Fax: (412) 268-1809

E-mail: Link

Website: Link