4. Integrating the dimensions of biodiversity to understand tree performance in a changing world (2022 to present) https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2124466&HistoricalAwards=false
This project was funded by NSF. I participated this project as a postdoctoral bioinformatician supervised by Dr. Nate Swenson at University of Notre Dame. My main tasks were to study the three fundamental dimensions of biodiversity – genetic diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and functional diversity to describe the unknown mechanisms driving the origin, maintenance, and functional roles of biodiversity.
Update on January, 2024: I was selected to give a talk at PAG31 at San Diego. Below is the powerpoint.
Update on December, 2023: We published a manuscript “Comparative transcriptomics reveals divergence in pathogen response gene families amongst 20 forest tree species“. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkad233
Update on January, 2023: I was selected to give a talk at PAG30 at San Diego. Below is the powerpoint.
3. CoAdapTree (2017 to 2021) http://www.pinemap.org/
This project was funded by Genome Canada. I participated this project as a postdoctoral scholar supervised by Dr. Sam Yeaman at University of Calgary. My main tasks were to: 1) Design sequence capture probes for four conifer species — lodgepole pine, jack pine, Douglas-fir, and western larch; 2) Analyze gene expression patterns of lodgepole pine inoculated with fungi pathogen; 3) Perform GWAS to characterize genes underlying lodgepole pine’s resistance to fungi pathogen.
Update on May 6, 2021: I was invited to give an oral presentation at CFGA/WFGA Student and Postdoc Symposium this year. Below is my pre-recorded video.
Update on March,2021: I was interviewed by Genomics in Society project of UBC earlier on. I talked about my study on genomics technology, next-generation sequencing, tree diseases, and the future of our forests. Please click on the below link and scroll down to the section “Current Research Spotlight” for details. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e7fc9857ceeb4118b0c3788b5329f94c
2. PINEMAP (2011 to 2016) http://www.pinemap.org/
This project was funded by USDA. I participated this project as a Ph.D. student supervised by Dr. Carol Loopstra and Dr. Konstantin Krutovsky at Texas A&M University. My main tasks were to: 1) Design sequence capture probes for loblolly pine; 2) Perform library construction to capture and enrich loblolly pine genes; 3) Analyze the genetic mechanism of loblolly pine in response to climate change.
1. Maize gene expression under different zinc supply
(2005 to 2008)
This project was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China. I participated this project as a master student supervised by Dr. Wang Jingan at Tianjin Normal University. My main tasks were to: 1) Construct suppression subtractive hybridization libraries using maize samples under different zinc supply; 2) Characterize the expressed genes associated with zinc supply conditions.