Shian Liu, Ph.D.

Dr. Liu earned his Ph.D. in Biology from Texas A&M University (TAMU), where he studied ion permeation and selectivity mechanisms in tetrameric ion channels, such as potassium (K⁺) and cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels. He continued his training at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) focusing on membrane protein structure and the development of cryo-electron diffraction technique, MicroED. Driven by a growing interest in membrane receptors, Dr. Liu further expanded his research at Weill Medical College of Cornell University (or Weill Cornell Medicine, WCM), where he investigated the structures and signaling mechanisms of lysophospholipid G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and receptor guanylyl cyclases (rGCs). He is currently an assistant professor at West Virginia University (WVU), dedicated to uncovering the molecular architecture of membrane proteins and advancing drug development targeting these critical biomolecules.