My journey began in China, where I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Technology. I focused on upgrading coal tar into valuable light aromatics—an effort to reduce pollution and improve the efficiency of fossil resource use. This early experience showed me how scientific research can directly address real-world environmental and industrial challenges.

Motivated by a deep curiosity about life beyond Earth, I moved to Paris to pursue a Ph.D. at CentraleSupélec. There, I transitioned from chemical engineering to astrobiology, developing novel methods to detect potential biosignatures, such as nucleobases and DNA fragments, in Martian samples. My research contributed to NASA’s Curiosity rover and the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, supporting the search for life on Mars.

After completing my Ph.D., I joined MNHN &Sorbonne University as a CNRS postdoctoral researcher. I investigated how hydrothermal processes alter amino acids and nucleobases in meteorites, including their stable isotope compositions. This work offered new insight into the chemical evolution of early solar system materials and the possible origins of life.

Currently, I’m a postdoctoral scholar at Caltech, expanding into isotope geochemistry. I use high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry to analyze nitrogen isotopes in amino acids extracted from fossilized teeth. This cutting-edge technique provides insights into ancient diets, ecosystems, and evolutionary processes.

A common thread runs through all my work: a fascination with how organic matter evolves across space and time—from fossil fuels to meteorites, Martian soils to ancient terrestrial life. I thrive at the intersection of disciplines and seek to push analytical chemistry into new frontiers.

Beyond the lab, I’m both a dreamer and a doer. I'm driven by curiosity and energized by challenge. Reading, writing, and exploring new ideas are essential parts of who I am. I see science not just as a career, but as a way to explore the unknown and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the universe.