People

Current Lab Members

Yi-Jyun received his undergraduate degree from National Sun Yat-Sen University. His PhD at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology focused on animal genome evolution. Following postdoctoral training in single-cell and evolutionary genomics at Harvard University and the University of Oxford, he joined the Biodiversity Research Center in 2022. He is passionate about studying the evolution and development of body plans, cell types, and genomes. He motivates people and organizes resources to support intellectual freedom and foster independence.

yjluo@gate.sinica.edu.tw | CV

Meng-Chen received her master's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the National Taiwan University. She is interested in the intersection between ecology and social science and has studied the ecology of moon jellyfish and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. In the Luo lab, she handles administrative work, helping everyone focus on science.

luolab@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Isabel earned her bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, where she studied mathematics with an emphasis on topology. She joined the Luo Lab in 2022 and primarily focused on analyzing single-cell transcriptomics data. Having considerable experience in both computer science and art, she is passionate about constructing new approaches to visualize complex data through clear and concise code. Outside work, she is also a volunteer field researcher for the Society for Taiwanese Amphibian Conservation.

ijyliao@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Li-Jung received her bachelor's degree in marine biotechnology and resources from the National Sun Yat-Sen University, where she studied the feeding habits of cone snails. She joined the Luo Lab in 2024 with a research interest in the photosynthetic symbiotic relationships between acoels and algae.

ljkao0527@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Tom completed his undergraduate degree and PhD at the University of Oxford in the UK. His background is in evolutionary and developmental biology, and his PhD work focused on the role of fast-evolving genes during mammalian embryonic development. He joined the Luo Lab in 2023, where he is applying a multi-omics approach to understand the nature of pluripotency in corals.

tlewin@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Tosuke completed his PhD at Okayama University in Japan. His background is in cellular biology, focusing on the structure and function of sensory organs and the nervous system in acoel worms. Currently, he is highly interested in acoel-algal photosymbiosis. In the Luo lab, he will analyze the genomes and transcriptomes of acoels and algae, in addition to morphological analysis, to understand the mechanism of photosymbiosis.

tosuke@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Victor received his undergraduate and master's degrees from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and later completed his PhD at Queen Mary University of London in the UK. His background is in physiology and cellular biology, focusing on signaling systems that control physiological processes in marine invertebrates. In 2024, he joined the Luo Lab, where he is applying multi-omics techniques to investigate the signaling systems driving coral bleaching and regeneration processes.

victormpg@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Yi-Ling earned her PhD from the National Taiwan Ocean University, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of sexual reproduction in corals. She then undertook postdoctoral training in genomic analysis at the University of Tokyo. In the Luo lab, she contributes to research on acoel symbiosis and coral reproduction, utilizing transcriptomics and single-cell techniques.

yii2390@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Hsin-Pin is an upcoming senior in the Department of Aquatic Biosciences at National Chiayi University. She completed an internship at the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology last summer. Driven by a strong interest in symbiotic associations, she joined the Luo Lab in the summer of 2024.

tsailala0908@gmail.com

Ethan is a rising senior at Taipei American School. During the school year, he enjoys creating mathematical models for various physical systems. He’s interested in exploring genomic data analysis techniques at the Luo lab. He joined the lab in 2024 summer through the TAS Summer Internship Program.

25ethanh@students.tas.tw

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