Qi Chen  (Group Leader)

    I obtained my PhD degree at Chinese Academy of Sciences in biochemistry and cell biology, after that I joined Abcam where I worked on varioius protocols for epigenetic studies including ChIP-seq and CUT&RUN. I returned to academia and developed a keen interst on RNA biology at UCR; now I joined Qi Chen Lab at University of Utah to explore the function of RNAs and RNA modifications in epigenetic inheritance (Google Scholar)

Chen Cai (Postdoc)

Xudong Zhang (Postdoc)

    I was trained in molecular biology and stem cell biology at Chinese Academy of Sciences, where I got my Master's degree. I got my PhD at Dr. Qi Chen's lab studying  the functions and regulations of RNA modifications, paticularly those enriched in tsRNAs. My current projects involve studying the functional principles of tsRNAs and stem cells and disease models (Google Scholar)
    After obtaining my M.D. at Chongqing Medical University, I began my research journey at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. What started as a study of mouse embryo development and implantation became a twisted and exciting journey of discovery, eventually leading to my Ph.D. work on water channels (AQP3) in sperm osmoadaptation.
     I then turned to study small RNAs in sperm and pioneered the systematic discovery of sperm tsRNAs and rsRNAs, showing that these RNAs—together with their RNA modifications—transmit paternal environmental information to offspring as a 'sperm RNA code.' To overcome the detection bias of standard sequencing, we developed PANDORA-seq, which uncovers a previously invisible world of modified small RNAs and enables new biology.
   Our group is moving to define how the sperm RNA code of aging and environmental stressors shapes early embryonic cell fate and offspring health, and exploring ‘RNA codes’ more broadly in contexts such as aptamer-like functions of small RNAs, RNA structural memory, autoimmune mechanisms, and precision medicine.

A Cake of Science & Wishes...

Jiancheng Yu (Graduate student)

Keep Calm and Grow Strong...

The Departure in Beijing (2015.8)

We are moving from UNR to UC Riverside (2018.12)

Maya's Honors Convocation at UNR

Farewell, UNR - the place we grow

Qi Chen lab at UC Riverside (2019)

Junchao & Xudong's PhD graduation (2022)

Qi Chen Lab alumni:
Junchao Shi (PhD student 2016-2021/Postdoc 2021-2023); PI at Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yunfang Zhang (Exchange PhD Student 2017-2018); PI at Tongji University
Bailong Zhang (Postdoc 2021-2022); PI at Lanzhou Univeristy
Menghong Yan (Visiting Scholar) 2017-2018; Junior PI at Fudan University
Shichao Liu (Postdoc/Senior Scientist 2018-2024); Research Assistant Professor at Rutgers university
Maya Pahima (Undergraduate student) 2017-2018; PhD study at Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Kristopher Alighchi (Undergraduate student) 2017-2018
Joanne Garcia (Undergraduate student) 2017-2018
    I am currently a graduate student in the department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah, I have a general interest in studying small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) functionality, especially focusing on the non-cannonical sncRNAs including tsRNAs & rsRNAs. My research project invovles the exploration of AGO-dependent and AGO-idependent function of sncRNAs in different cells and species (Google Scholar)
Ying Liu (Graduate student/MS) 2016-2018
Ying Zhang (Visiting Scholar) 2019-2020
Dongmei Tan (Visiting Scholar) 2017-2019
Kristopher Alighchi (Undergraduate student) 2017-2018
Joanne Garcia (Undergraduate student) 2017-2018
Austin Yu (Undergraduate student) 2021-2022
Carol Wann (Undergraduate student) 2019-2020
Cameron Krainock (Undergraduate student) 2019-2020
Kashmaila Ali (Undergraduate student) 2020-2022
Carol Wann (Undergraduate student) 2019-2020
Shi Liang (MD student) 2023-2024
Megan McMurray (Urology Fellow)
    I was trained in Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, and have finished my residency in Urology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. I'm currently a urology fellow at University of Utah School of Medicine, developing a keen interest in urology/andrology related research project, with a focus on the diagnostic value of sperm RNA code in human diseases

Under the mighty nature (2025)

     Being a scientific wanderer so far, I enjoyed the process of following clues and exploring whatever directions the clues lead us to (if get funded). Knowing how small and insignificant we are in the universe, I'm grateful and fulfilled to be with a group of motivated people who turn curiosity into scientific discoveries, with our limited minds and hands.