About

I am currently a Research Fellow in the Section of Molecular and Systems Biology at the University of Surrey, working with Dr. Bingxin Lu. My research focuses on reconstructing the evolutionary history of cancer genomes through computational approaches. Using copy number alterations (CNAs) as phylogenetic markers, I work with CNETA, a tool for inferring tree topology, node ages, and CNA rates from longitudinal samples. As part of a recent MRC award (2025–2028), I am developing more realistic models of cancer evolution by integrating CNAs at multiple levels with advanced Bayesian inference methods that support variable CNA rates across time.

I completed my PhD at the University of Bristol under Prof. Philip C J Donoghue FRS FLSW and Prof. Davide Pisani. My doctoral research centered on phylogenetic inference and Bayesian computational methods to constrain topological and temporal uncertainty in evolutionary history. I developed expertise in handling large-scale comparative datasets, reconciling fossil and molecular data, and implementing sophisticated statistical approaches to address evolutionary questions across key clades such as angiosperms, metazoans, and eukaryotes.

During my Master’s degree at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS, I worked under Prof. Maoyan Zhu, co-supervised by Prof. Fangchen Zhao and Prof. Zongjun Yin. I gained extensive hands-on experience in experimental data generation: fossil excavation, acid preparation techniques, rock sectioning, and high-resolution microscopy. Critically, I developed proficiency in quantitative data analysis, becoming skilled with optical and chemical analysis instruments including micro-spectroscopy. I also received formal training in cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, and evolutionary theory—providing a strong foundation for integrating molecular biology with computational approaches.

My undergraduate degree was from the China University of Geosciences (Beijing). Through fieldwork and museum curation experience, I developed a deep interest in evolutionary history and data analysis. This background provided the foundational knowledge that now informs my computational approaches to understanding evolutionary processes at both ancient and contemporary timescales—from deep-time diversification patterns to modern biological evolution.