Mentor: Dr. T.S. Karin Eisinger• Established novel research tools for studying tumor metastasis.• Identified novel mechanisms of hypoxia-driven sarcoma metastasis with the goal to develop novel therapies.• Studied the relationship between tumor extracellular matrix and T cell activities.• Collaborated with other labs and academic institutes on Ewing’s sarcoma, breast and lung cancer.• Mentored PhD/undergraduate students and lab technicians.

Mentor: Hong-Gang Wang• Developed a UV light- and special amino acids-facilitated protein interaction screening assay.• Discovered novel molecular interactions that are important for the autophagy machinery.• Determined roles of Bif-1 in autophagy, lipid homeostasis, obesity and metabolic complications.Former Mentor: Philip Lazarus (now at Washington State University)• Identified the Phase II enzymes responsible for reducing the breast cancer drug exemestane and characterized their pharmacokinetics in vitro and in human liver tissues;• Defined the pharmacokinetics of the carbonyl reduction of the tobacco-derived carcinogen NNK in vitro and in normal and diseased human lung tissues, and investigated the association between the genetic polymorphisms of carbonyl reductases and the development of lung cancer.

Mentor: Joe A. Vinson• Characterized hepatic metabolites of green tea polyphenols and their ability to suppress LDL/vLDL oxidation.

Analytical Sciences and Assay Development• Determined the optimal concentration of key components in formulation that maintains the stability of meninge polysaccharides vaccine.

Department of Quality Control • Acquired hands-on training on product quality control in compliance with GMP standards.• Participated in assay optimization to determine the concentration of stachydrine hydrochloride in multiple formulations of Herba Leonuri (a Chinese medicinal herb).