Could you give a few information about yourself and your scientific background, including previous studies and obtained degrees?

I earned my BSc in Laboratory Science from Chongqing Medical University and MSc in Immunology from Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products. My thesis work focused on molecular design and immunogenicity evaluation of a next-generation hepatitis B vaccine, expressing and purifying vaccine antigens, developing ELISA and cell-based neutralisation assays. So, I have combined background in immunology, molecular biology and protein biochemistry.

Could you provide details about your scientific research, and previous projects, listing your key expertise and skills? 

In my master’s research, I design and evaluate vaccines through molecular design and immunological approaches. I constructed recombinant plasmids and I got proteins by transient transfection using different cells. And I purified the protein by different purification methods such as ion exchange chromatography, nickel affinity chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography. Then I immunized mice with antigens and examined serum antibody potency and typing using ELISA analysed T and B cell phenotypes using flow cytometry. Through my previous projects, I am skilled in molecular cloning techniques such as sequence design, PCR, transformation of E. coli, plasmid construction, cell culture techniques, protein expression and purification, ELISA, flow cytometry and so on.

What was the motivation for joining the AUREUS project?

My motivation for joining AUREUS is rooted in the perfect alignment between the project’s goals and my background in molecular biology and microbiology. During my previous work on vaccine against virus and bacteria, I became fascinated by the discovery of new microbial targets and the process of their generation. Joining AUREUS project therefore allows me to apply my previous skills, learn new techniques, and contribute to combat antibiotic resistance by exploring wall teichoic acids (WTA) as a potential target for vaccines and immune-based therapies against bacterial infections.

What is the motivation and aim of your PhD project?

Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is predicted to kill more people than cancer by 2050 if no new chemical entities enter the pipeline. I want to complement immunological approaches with direct-acting, resistance-robust chemical tools that hit pathways essential for virulence and fitness. The aim is to generate new knowledge that could ultimately lead to identification of novel strategies to combat methicillin resistant staphylococcus aures (MRSA) infections.

Could you write a few sentences about yourself, your hobbies, interests?

When I’m not in the lab I head for the hills—nothing clears my mind like a steep trail and a distant summit. Long-distance hiking keeps me fit, sharpens my project-planning mindset, and gives me space to relax.