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Li Group People
Principal Investigator
Yun Li, Ph.D.
Professor Genetics, Biostatistics
Education
- Ph.D., Biostatistics, University of Michigan, 2009
Email:
- yunli@med.unc.edu
Current Members
Jia (Elaine) Wen
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education
- PhD in Statistical Genomics, Nanjing Agricultural University, 2014
- BS in Statistics, Nanjing Agricultural University, 2009
Research Topics
- Leveraging statistical and machine learning methods for In Silico Enhanced GWAS
- Multi-omic mechanistic study underlying genetics of Alzheimer's disease
Jiawen Chen
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- MS in Data Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020
- BS in Statistics, East China Normal University, 2018
Research Topics
- Spatial Transcriptomics
- Machine learning methods for genomics
Brian Chen
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BS in Biostatistics and Mathematics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2021
Research Topics
- Leveraging functional annotation data to construct polygenic risk score
Frank Ockerman
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- MS in Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2022
- BS in Statistics and Analytics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2020
Research Topics
- Polygenic Risk Score for admixed populations
- Analysis of metabolomics data
Will/Chenwei Tang
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BA in Biological Sciences, University of Chicago, 2022
- BA in Computer Science, University of Chicago, 2022
Research Topics
- Deep learning methods for cell-type-specific inference
- Genetics of cardiovascular diseases among individuals affected with CKD
Lina Guan
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- MS in Computer Science, Boston University Metropolitan College, 2020
- MA in Statistics, University of Michigan, 2018
- BA in Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 2012
Research Topics
- Analysis of single cell omics data
- Leveraging single cell omics data for genetic dissection of complex traits
Elena Kharitonova
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BS in Chemical Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 2020
- BA in Statistics, University of California, Berkeley, 2020
Research Topics
- Construction of endophenotype-incorporated polygenic risk score for clinical endpoints
Lingbo Zhou
MS student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BS in Biotechnology, Soochow University, 2020
Research Topics
- Training prediction models for expression levels and splicing quantifications
Jiawen Du
MS student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BS in Biology Science, Wuhan University, 2021
Research Topics
- Statistical methods for the analysis of multiplexed DNA FISH data
Sean Conneely
MD-PhD student, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Education
- BS in
Research Topics
- Single cell and multi-omic analysis to better understand malaria transmission
Yiyan Zhang
PhD student, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Education
- MS in Computational Biology and Quantitative Genetics, Harvard University, 2023
- BS in Statistics (Focus: Biostatistics) and Mathematics, Pennsylvania State University, 2021
Research Topics
- Spatial transcriptomics, construction of knowledge graph
Muqing Zhou
PhD student, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Education
- MS in Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2022
- BS in Biology Technology, Wuhan University, 2020
Research Topics
- Spatial transcriptomics, construction of knowledge graph
Walter Chen
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- MS in Biostatistics, University of Washington, 2023
- BA in Plant Protection, Zhejiang University, 2021
- BS in Entomology, Cornell University, 2021
Research Topics
- Statistical methods for chromatin spatial organization
Hongyu Yu
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics， 2024-
Education
- BS in Mathematics and Statistics, Minor in Computer Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2024
Research Topics
- Statistical methods for the analysis of data from multiplexed DNA imaging technologies
Xavier Loffree
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics， 2024-
Education
- BS in Mathematics, Biostatistics Major, University of Waterloo, 2024
Research Topics
- Drug repurposing with multi-omics data
Wenhao Zheng
PhD student, Department of Computer Science， 2024-
Education
- Master of Software Engineering, Zhejiang University, 2024
- Bachelor of Computer Science, Zhejiang University, 2021
Research Topics
- Deep learning and AI methods for the analysis of multi-modality data
Alumni Members
Education
- PhD in Computer Science, 2013
- Bachelor of Computing (Honour) with Minor in Mathematics, National University of Singapore, 2005
Research Topics
- Genotype imputation in admixed populations or with large reference;
Design of sequencing-based studies for complex traits
Current Position
- Research Scientist at Facebook
Andrea Byrnes
Education
- Ph.D. in Biostatistics, UNC-CH, 2013
- Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Chicago, 2006
Research Topics
- Analysis of rare genetic variants in both Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and massively parallel sequencing (MPS) based studies.
Current Position
- Postdoctoral Fellow at the Broad Institute
Elvis Kuan-Chieh Huang
Education
- Ph.D. in Biostatistics, UNC-CH, 2015
- Masters of Science in Statistics, University of Michigan, 2010
Research Topics
- Inference on phenotype-genotype association using imputed data;
Indel calling from massively parallel sequencing data
Current Position
- Sr. Biostatistician at Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Joshua S. Martin
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education
- Ph.D in Theoretical Physics, Brandies University, 2008
- B.A. in Physics, College of Wooster, 2002
Research Topics
- Method developement and analysis of Hi-C data.
Created HUGIn for Hi-C data exploration.
Current Position
- Bioinformatics Scientist at Omicsoft
Song Yan, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education
- Ph.D. in Statistics, North Carolina State University, 2011
- M.S. in Applied Mathematics, Zhejiang University, 2002
- B.E. in Information and Electronics Engineering, Zhejiang University, 1999
Research Topics
- Genetic association analysis involving family or longitudinal data
- Analysis of sequencing-based association studies
Current Position
- Data Scientist at Bing Ads, Microsoft
Zheng Xu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education
- PhD in Statistics and Economics, Iowa State University, 2012
- MS in Applied Economics, Illinois State University, PA, 2005
- BS in Business Economics, Fudan University, Shanghai 2001
Research Topics
- Chromatin Interaction Detection from Hi-C Data
- Imputation of Association Summary Statistics
- Analysis of Next Generation Sequencing Data
- Analysis of Methylation Data
Current Position
- Faculty, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Wright State University
Guosheng Zhang
Education
- Ph.D. in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, UNC-CH, 2016
- B.S. in Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, 2011
- Double Major in Computer Software, School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, 2011
Research Topics
- Epigenomic genetics for hepato-cellular carcinoma
- Analysis of rare variants in admixed populations
Current Position
- Software Engineer at Google
Qing Duan
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education
- Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, UNC-CH, 2016
- MS in Statistics and Operations Research, UNC-CH, 2015
- MS in Biochemistry, Iowa State University, 2010
- BS in Biotechnology, Shandong University, 2007
Research Topics
- Genotype Imputation, TWAS, Single-cell RNAseq
Current Position
- Research Associate at University of Cincinnati
Yimeng Tianyao
Education
- MS in Statistics and Operations Research (STOR), UNC-CH, 2017
- BS in Information & Computing Science, Zhejiang University, 2015
Research Topics
- Genotype imputation
Current Position
Zoey Ho
Education
- MS in Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, 2020
Research Topics
- Genotype imputation
- Single cell Hi-C
Position in Li Lab
- Undergraduate research volunteer, 2017-2018
Current Position
- PhD student in Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University
Jun Yin
Education
- BS in biotechnology, College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, 2018
Research Topics
- Genotype imputation
Position in Li Lab
- summer undergraduate research volunteer, 2017
Current Position
- Teaching Assistant, Columbia University
Ruth Huh
Education
- BS in Statistics, UCLA, 2011
- PhD in Biostatistics, UNC, 2019
Research Topics
- Single-cell Ensemble Clustering
- Single-cell Hi-C; deconvolution of bulk Hi-C data
Current Position
- Research Scientist - Statistics, Eli Lilly
Madeline Kowalski
Education
- MS in Biostatistics, UNC, 2019
- BA in Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Chicago, 2017
Research Topics
- Whole Genome Sequencing based Imputation in Minority Populations
- Imputation-aided Genetic Association for Hematological Traits in Minority Populations
Current Position
- MD/PhD Student, NYU
Huijun Qian
Education
- PhD in Statistics and Operations Research, UNC-CH, 2019
- MS in Applied Statistics, BGSU, 2014
- BS in Statistics with Minor in Finance, Zhejiang Gongshang University, 2012
Research Topics
- Whole Genome Sequencing based Imputation in Minority Populations
- Imputation-aided Genetic Association for Hematological Traits in Minority Populations
Current Position
- Sr Quantitative Analyst, Enterprise Risk Management, Exelon
Wujuan Zhong
PhD in Biostatistics (2019)
Education
- BS in Mathematics, Sichuan University, 2014
Research Topics
- Method developement for mediation analysis
Current Position
- Senior scientist in Merck BARDS
Yuchen Yang
Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2020)
Education
- Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 2016
- B.S. in Biotechnology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 2011
Research Topics
- Clustering for single-cell RNA sequencing
- Batch effect correction for single-cell RNA sequencing
- Method developement and analysis of Hi-C data
Current Position
- Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC-CH
PhD student, Biostatistics (2015-2020)
Education
- MS Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2015
- BS in Economics, Mathematics, The Honors College at Arizona State University, 2013
Research Topics
- Statistical association testing for single cell RNA-Seq data
Current Position
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Xihong Lin Lab, Harvard University
Ai Ye
PhD student, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (2018-2020)
Education
- MA in Social Research Methodology, UCLA, 2013
- BS in Engineering, Wuhan University, 2012
Research Topics
- Epigenetic studies for infections and immunity
- Epigenetic studies of the interplay between maternal stressors, child adversity and adult traumas
Current Position
- Statistical Consultant and Software Developer, RTI International
Cheynna Crowley
DrPH student, Biostatistics (2015-2020)
Education
- BS in Mathematics and Public Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2015
Research Topics
- Integrative analysis of Hi-C data
- analysis of multiple brain Hi-C datasets
Current Position
- Principal Statistician, GlaxoSmithKline in Waltham, MA
Taylor Lagler
PhD in Biostatistics (2015-2021)
Education
- BS in Mathematics, Millersville University, PA, 2016
Research Topics
- Characterizing 3D chromatin interations
Current Position
- Statistician at The Lubrizol Corporation
Yue(Annie) Shan
PhD in Biostatistics (2016-2021)
Education
- M.S. in Biostatistics,UNC-CH, 2016
- BSPH in Biostatistics and Mathematics, UNC-CH, 2014
Research Topics
- Imaging genetics
- Transcriptome-wide association studies
- Meta-analysis
Gang (Frank) Li
PhD in INSTORE (Interdisciplinary Statistics and Operations Research) (2017-2021)
Education
- MS in Statistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2017
- BS in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Beijing University of Posts & Telecommunications, 2016
Research Topics
- Method developement and analysis of DNA methylation data
- Batch effect correction for single-cell RNA sequencing
- Deep learning methods to enhance resolution of HiChIP/PLAC-Seq chromatin 3D organization data
- SV calling from whole genome sequencing data
Current Position
- Postdoctoral Fellow, the Noble Research Lab, University of Washington
Amanda Tapia
DrPh in Biostatistics (2015-2021)
Education
- MS in Biostatistics, UNC-CH, 2015
- BA in Spanish, minor in Mathematics and Neuroscience, Regis University, 2009
Research Topics
- TWAS for blood cell traits
- Multi-omic dissection of complex traits
Zhentao Yu
MS student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BS in Mathematical Sciences, Binghamton University, 2019
Research Topics
- Spatial Transcriptomics
Current Position
- PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Yingxi Kaylee Yang
Visiting undergraduate student, Harvard University
Education
- BS in Logic, Sun Yat-Sen University, 2020
- BS in Statistics (Dual Degree), 2021 anticipated
Research Topics
- Region-based association analysis for whole genome sequencing data
- Machine learning based method to better calibrate imputation quality metric
Current Position
- PhD student, Yale University
Ben Bodek
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BS in Mathematics Sciences, Clemson University, 2016
Research Topics
- Multi-omics dissection of neuropsychiatric diseases
- Allelic specific study of quantitative sequencing data
Chanhwa Lee
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BS in Statistics, Minor in Mathematical Sciences, Seoul National University, 2020
Research Topics
- TWAS/MWAS/PWAS
- Detection and analysis of structural variants
Jon Rosen
PhD in Biostatistics, 2021
Education
- MS in Statistics(Actuarial Science), University of Iowa, 2011
- BS in Medicinal Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1996
Research Topics
- Transcriptome-wide association studies
- genotype imputation
- Reproducibility metrics for HiChIP/PLAC-Seq chromatin 3D organization data
Laura Raffield
Education
- Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Wake Forest University, 2015
Research Topics
- Genetics of blood cell, inflammation, and hemostasis traits, with a focus on African American and Hispanic/Latino populations
- Integrate analysis of proteomics and metabolomics data with genetic data
- Generation of new multi-omics data resources in African American and Hispanic/Latino populations
Current Position
- Assistant Professor, Genetics, UNC-CH
PhD student, Biostatistics, 2017-2022
Education
- BS in Mathematics, Centre College, 2017
Research Topics
- Training of gene expression prediction models in multi-ethnic eQTL datasets
- Extending summary statitsic-based approaches relying on LD reference panels to admixed populations
- Method developement and analysis of single cell Hi-C data
Current Position
- Senior Research Scientist, the Collaborative Studies Coordinating Center, UNC-CH
Ying Alice Sun
Undergraduate student
Education
- BS in Quantitative Biology, Biostatistics, Minor in Mathematics, UNC-CH, 2018-2022
Research Topics
- Chromatin spatial organization study by jointly modeling imaging and sequencing data
Current Position
- MS in Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University
Weifang Liu
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics, 2018-2023
Education
- BA in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Macalester College, 2018
Research Topics
- Hierarchical hidden Markov random field model for multi-tissue Hi-C data
- Methods for fine mapping of complex human traits
- Association of SVs with hematological traits
Current Position
- Biostatistician II, Foundation Medicine
Minzhi Jiang
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2023
Education
- PhD in Applied Physical Sciences, UNC-CH, 2022
- MS in Physics, New York University, 2016
- BS in Physics, Nanjing University, 2012
Research Topics
- Integrative multi-omic analysis via canonical correlation analysis (CCA)
- Deep learning methods for 3D chromatin organization data
- SV calling from whole genome sequencing data
- Association of SV with hematological traits
Current Position
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University
Tianyou Luo
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics, 2018-2023
Education
- BS in Chemistry, BS in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (Double Major), Peking University, 2018
Research Topics
- GAN based models
- Spatial Transcriptomics
- Multi-omics analysis based on canonical correlation analysis
Current Position
- Machine Learning Scientist, Tempus Labs
Xiaoqi Li
PhD student, Carolina Health Informatics Program, 2020-2023
Education
- BS in Applied Mathematics, Engineering, and Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020
- Double Major in Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020
Research Topics
- Leveraging GPU for efficient analysis of single cell Hi-C data
- Polygenic Risk Score
Laura Zhou
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2022-2023
Education
- PhD in Biostatistics, UNC-CH, 2022
- MS in Biostatistics, UNC-CH, 2016
- BSPH in Biostatistics, double major in Mathematics, minor in English, UNC-CH, 2014
Research Topics
- Method development for constructing polygenic risk scores in diverse populations
Current Position
- Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine
Sarah O'Brien
BSPH student, Department of Biostatistics, 2023
Research Topics
- Multi-omics associations with psychosocial measures among African Americans from the Jackson Heart Study
Dinelka Nanayakkara
MS student, Department of Biostatistics, 2021-2023
Education
- BS in Mathematics and Economics, University of London, 2020
Research Topics
- Polygenic risk score in admixed populations
- Analysis of chromatin spatial organization data
Ruyue Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education
- PhD in Medical Science, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, 2022
- MPH in Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, 2017
- BS in Biological Sciences, Fudan University, 2015
Research Topics
- Improving Polygenic Prediction for Psychiatric Disorders for Clinical Use
Quan Sun
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- BS in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Zhejiang University, 2019
Research Topics
- Whole Genome Sequencing Study of cystic fibrosis
- Genotype imputation
- Polygenic risk score for admixed populations
- GWAS for serum biomarkers
Current Position
- Assistant Professor, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Le Huang
PhD student, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Education
- BS in Computer Science and Technology, Central China Normal University, 2016
- MS in Computer Science and Technology, Nankai University, 2019
Research Topics
- Deep learning methods for enhancement of PLAC-Seq and HiChIP data
- Functional annotations of non-coding genetic variants
Current Position
- HealthCare AI scientist, GE
Shuai Huang
PhD student, Department of Biostatistics
Education
- MS in Biostatistics, UNC-CH, 2022
- BS in Agronomy, Zhejiang University, 2020
Research Topics
- multi-omics analysis for CVD in CKD
Amar Marthi
PhD student, Department of Epidemiology
Education
- MPH in Quantitative Methods, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2016
- MBBCh (with Distinction) in Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge, 2013
- BA (hons) in Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge, 2010
Research Topics
- Polygenic Risk Score for CVD Events
