***No longer involved in zebrafish research.***

Biography:

Nationality: Chinese

Date of Birth: January 11, 1974

Contact Information: Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119260.

Computer skills: I have a sound knowledge of Microsoft Windows 98, NT and Linux as well as the full suite of Microsoft Office applications. I am familiar with the internet, web design (FrontPage, Corel Draw, and I have two personal homepages), C language and biological software like DNAsis, DNAMAN, Sequencing Analysis for ABI Prism and web sites (GenBank, Fasta and NCBI). I also have knowledge of C++ and
Visual Basic.

Language: Chinese (Mother tongue), English (Fluent spoken and written), Japanese (Beginner level).

Hobbies and Interests: Sports, Chinese Cuisine, Traveling, Reading, Surfing the net, Folk and classic music.

Personality: I am a team player who is open-minded, a quick-learner and a hard worker. I am easy-going, confident and cooperative with other people.

Education:

9/1990-7/1994, Department of Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China, BSc., 7/1994.

9/1994-7/1997, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China. MSc., 7/1997.

1/1998-present, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Ph.D candidate.

Work Experience:

7/1997-12/1997, Working as R&D staff in Sitai Hi-Tech Company (Biomaterial), Beijing, China. The project of our group was trying to apply BMP (Bone Morphogenic Protein) in clinical trials, one of 863 projects in China. My responsibilities there were cell-culture and the purification of carrier protein, collagen.

Teaching Experience:

1/1996-5/1996, Graduate TA in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nankai University.

7/1999-7/2000, Graduate TA and Demonstrator in the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore.

Research Experience:

1/1994-7/1997, In the MSc. period, my research was focused on the topological structure of plasmid DNA. It can be divided into two parts. The first part was to study the effects on the structure of DNA by various factors like temp., acid, alkaline, ion, helicase and topoisomerase. The second part was to elucidate the relationship between different DNA structure and their conversion point.
Papers published: 1 International Journal, 2 Regional Journals and 1 conference.

1/1998-present, The title of my current research is 'Dissection of genes in the neurogenesis pathway of zebrafish'. Transferred to the development field, I got more experience of molecular biology. Since vertebrates and invertebrates share similar mechanisms in the early neuronal development, study that of zebrafish--a low vertebrate, will benefit to the understanding of the mechanism in the human development. In the past two and half years I cloned 5 novel neuronal genes that belong to two critical transcriptional factor families that may play significant roles in the developmental process. To date all the genes are characterized and mapped in the genome, furthermore, one promoter was isolated. Functional analysis was also carried out for some genes. Further study will surely bring results that are more exciting.
Papers: two international papers, two submitted, four in preparation, 1 Regional Journal, three for conference: (attended the 4th International Zebrafish Development and Genetic Conference in Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA).

Biological Skills:

Gene Cloning (By RACE or Library Screening), Isolation of DNA and RNA, Construction of cDNA library, Manual and Automatic DNA sequencing, Cell-culture, ELISA, Southern, Northern and Western Blotting, SDS-PAGE, Two-dimensional electrophoresis, Protein purification, Microinjection, In-situ hybridization, Genome Mapping and TEM technique.