Biochemistry Structural biology Plant biology Human resource

Zhao Yang-Yang

Female +852-******** **********@**.***

EDUCATION

**** – 2019

Doctor of Science

School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, China

● Biochemistry; Structural biology; Molecular Biology; Synthetic biology; Plant biochemistry 2009 – 2013

Bachelor of Science

School of Life Sciences, Peking University, China

● Bioscience; Life science

WORK EXPERIENCE

● October 2010-November 2011

Member of the 2011 Peking University International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) team. The project aimed to construct ribozymes in E. coli using synthetic biology methods to respond to changes in the concentration of small molecule compounds (such as theophylline). The constructed ribozymes were assembled into the promoter region of reporter genes (such as green fluorescent protein GFP). By measuring the relationship curve between the expression of reporter genes and ligand concentration, quantitative regulation of gene expression was achieved. My work in team included cloning, vector construction, measuring the curve of the reporter gene changes with ligand concentration, and editing relevant content on the team's website for the competition.

● September 2013-December 2019

Graduate research in Prof. Wang Zhi-Xin’s lab, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, China.

- Design and construct tools for specific recognition and editing of RNAs with different lengths and sequences using the PUF domain of human Pumilio protein. Skills included purifying the newly constructed PUF protein in vitro, conducting protein crystallization experiments, resolving the structure of the newly designed PUF protein, and measuring the binding affinitybetween the new PUF protein and different RNAs using fluorescence polarization (FP) technology.

- Study the structure and activity regulation mechanisms of protein kinases and phosphatases. I studied independently on the activity regulation mechanism of BIN2

(Brassinosteroids Insensitive 2), a homologous protein of GSK3 kinase (Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3) in plants. In - depth studies were conducted on the enzyme properties, protein structure, and enzyme regulation mechanism of BIN2, along with its regulation mechanism by the upstream factors in vitro.

Exchange research scientist in Prof. Wang Xuelu’s lab, College of Life Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, China. Main work focused on studying and verifying the newly discovered regulatory mechanism of BIN2 in vivo, as long as revising the BRs signaling pathway model using Arabidopsis thaliana, using skills such as gene editing and transgenic plant construction, fluorescence confocal microscopy, and in vivo function experiments in plants.

● January 2020-July 2021

Research assistant in the Institute of Molecular Enzymology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, China. Continued to study independently on the activity regulation of BIN2 and the transduction mechanism of the BRs signaling pathway in Prof. Wang Zhi-Xin’s lab.

● July 2021-Current

Human resources officer, Urban Management Bureau of Qingdao, China.

- Responsible for human resource management, conference organization, community governance and clerical administration.

- Part-time work: Collaborate with Prof. Xue-Lu Wang’s group, School of Life Sciences, Henan University. Focused on revising the Nature paper, studying and verifying the newly discovered regulatory mechanism of BIN2 in vivo, as long as revising the BRs signaling pathway model. Methods include biochemical assays, gene editing and transgenic plant construction, fluorescence confocal microscopy, and in vivo function experiments. SKILLS

● Molecular biotechnology. Skilled in cloning including traditional restriction enzyme cutting and ligation, seamless cloning, Golden - gate assembly, and Gibson - assembly.

● In vitro purification of high - purity proteins. Proficient in affinity chromatography, ion - exchange chromatography, and size - exclusion chromatography.

● Biochemical techniques. Proficient in western blot, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, fluorescence polarization experiments, and using a spectrophotometer to study the thermodynamics and kinetics of enzymes.

● Protein crystallization. Skilled in screening suitable conditions for protein crystallization.

● Structure elucidation and refinement of biomacromolecules using X - Ray crystallography Data.

● Gene editing and transgenic plant construction in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using the CRISPR - Cas9 technology for gene knockout and constructing transgenic plants in Arabidopsis thaliana.

● Confocal Microscopy. Skilled in staining plant cells and observing the localization changes of proteins in living cells under ligand treatment.

● In Vivo Function Experiments in Plants. Skilled in bio-molecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) experiments, extracting active proteins from plants, co - immunoprecipitation (co - IP), extracting plant genomic DNA and RNA, and quantitative real - time PCR (qRT - PCR).

● Plant Tissue Culture. Skilled in culturing Arabidopsis thaliana and tobacco.

● Scientific writing; Data processing; Data analysis.

● Python programming.

● Human resource management; Conference organization; Clerical administration. PUBLICATIONS

● Yang-Yang Zhao, Jin Hu, Haijiao Wang, et al. AtPTP1 positively regulates brassinosteroid signaling from receptor kinases to GSK3-like kinase BIN2. Nature (under revision, reviewer comments back).

● Yang-Yang Zhao, Miao-Wei Mao, Wen-Jing Zhang, et al. (2018). Engineering RNA binding specificity and affinity of engineered PUF domains. Nucleic Acids Research, 46, 4771–4782.

HONORS & AWARDS

● 2018 Tsinghua University First-Class Comprehensive Excellence Scholarship.

● 2018 Tsinghua University Outstanding Doctoral Student Scholarship (Structural Biology Innovation Center).

● 2011 iGEM Asia Gold Medal & World Championship Finalist (Peking University Team).

● Honored with rewards for outstanding work in the 2023 and 2024 annual assessment, and obtained the Third-Class Merit in 2026.

LANGUAGE

- English: CET-6; fluent in academic communication and scientific writing

- Mandarin: Native

- Cantonese: Working

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