My name is Mengmeng Lu. I am a postdoctoral scholar at University of Notre Dame. That’s my work title, I regard myself as a working researcher.
To describe my personality — independent, inquisitive, open-minded, non-judgmental, free-spirited — Well, that’s what I strive to be. I am struggling with my weakness from time to time. I am not perfect.
My work aim is to understand the laws of nature.
I perform research on forest genetics and genomics by analyzing next-generation sequencing data, trying to find genes or causal variants controlling adaptive and resistance traits, and correlate the genetic variations to adaption scenarios.
I received my B.S. on Biological Science and M.S on Cell Biology at Tianjin Normal University, China. Upon graduation with my M.S., I began teaching Biology as a full-time teacher in a high school in Tianjin. Three years later, I went to U.S. to pursue my Ph.D. at the Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences Program at Texas A&M University. I studied the genetic and genomic architecture of complex traits related to climate change in loblolly pine. I collected my Ph.D. in 2016. Since 2017, I began working as a postdoc at University of Calgary. In 2021, I began my second postdoc appointment at University of Notre Dame, study forest genetic divergence for conservation purpose.
In my spare time, I try to immerse myself into art, philosophy, and nature. I read and travel to discover beauty.
I am a fervent fan of British period drama. I spent a lot of time watching Jane Austen and Agatha Christie’s novel-adapted films/TV series.