I was born and raised in Shanghai, China. I started my undergrad at Sewanee, a liberal arts college in Tennessee, and later transferred to Columbia University’s engineering school, where I studied Applied Physics. In my final year, I worked on a project using Pair Distribution Function analysis and got introduced to synchrotron techniques. That really sparked my interest in exploring materials at really small scales using big research facilities like synchrotrons and neutron sources.
After graduating, I spent a year working in industry as a financial due diligence researcher, but I eventually found myself drawn back to research. I have just finished my PhD in Chemistry at the University of St Andrews, where I focused on developing cathode materials for potassium-ion batteries, supervised by Dr. Julia L. Payne.
I am passionate about driving innovation in sustainable energy storage and deepening our understanding of material structures at the nanoscale. Beyond the lab, I am a devoted foodie with a particular weakness for bubble tea, and I love exploring new places to eat.