People

Hongjie Li
Hongjie.li@bcm.edu

Hongjie Li PhD, Principal Investigator

Hongjie got his bachelor’s degree from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2010, did his PhD with Dr. Henri Jasper at University of Rochester, New York, and then at Buck Institute for Research on Aging, California (2010-2016), and got his postdoctoral training with Dr. Liqun Luo at Stanford University (2016-2020).

Hongjie started his own lab in early 2021 at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). Currently, he is an assistant professor and CPRIT Scholar at Huffington Center on Aging & Department of Molecular and Human Genetics. He developed several single-cell/nucleus sequencing platforms in Drosophila (2017 Cell; 2020 Current Biology; 2021a eLife; 2021b eLife), and has been leading the Fly Cell Atlas project (2022 Science). His lab recently established the Aging Fly Cell Atlas for studying whole organism aging at cellular resolution (2023 Science) and the AD Fly Cell Atlas for studying brain-body communication during neurodegeneration conditions (2025 Neuron). His current research focuses on applying single-cell sequencing technologies to understand aging, with the ultimate goal of improving human healthy lifespan. 

His achievements have been recognized by receiving several awards, including the Stanford Neuroscience Institute Interdisciplinary Award (2017), NIH K99/R00 Award (2019/2021), Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Award (2020), Impetus longevity research Award (2021), Ted Nash Long Life Foundation Award (2022), Welch Foundation Award (2023), NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (DP2) (2024), Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Award (2025), Nancy Chang Foundation Research Award (2025), and DeBakey Research Award (2025). [Google Scholar][BCM profile]

Yanyan Qi
Yanyan.qi@bcm.edu

Yanyan Qi MD, Laboratory Director

Yanyan obtained her medical degree of Clinical Medicine from Xinxiang Medical University (equivalent to US MD degree, certified) in China in 2011 and did one-year residency in Hospital. From 2012 to 2016, she worked in Dr. Henri Jasper lab as a Research Assistant at the Buck Institute, Novato CA. Later, she worked as a Life science research professional in Dr. Howard Chang lab at Stanford University, and then as a Senior Research Associate at PACT Pharma in South San Francisco. Before coming to Baylor College of Medicine, she worked with Dr. Ansu Satpathy as LSRP3 at Stanford University. Currently in Li lab, Yanyan is the Laboratory Director. Outside the lab, Yanyan loves cooking, and has recorded every single meal in an Excel table for the last several years. 

Yanyan has extensive experience on scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, TCR-seq, ChIRP-MS and proteomics. Her work has contributed to >40 papers, including Cell (6x, 2019, 2021, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025), Science (4x, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2023), Neuron (2x, 2023, 2025), Nature Medicine (3x, 2018, 2019, 2023), Immunity (3x, 2021, 2022, 2024), eLife (2x, 2017, 2019), Nature Immunology, Nature Methods, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Neuroscience, Nature Aging, and PNAS with >8,000 citations.  [Google Scholar]

Niccole Auld
Niccole.Auld@bcm.edu

Niccole Auld, Graduate Student

Niccole graduated from the University of West Florida with her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences in 2019. She then joined the cancer and cell biology program at BCM, where she now works in Dr. Li’s lab (from 2021 March). Her research focuses on gut stem cell niche development and epigenetic regulation of gut stem cell aging. She oversees the training of Yara Younes, an undergrad from the University of Houston. In her spare time, Niccole enjoys spending time with her pup Tilly and creating artwork. 

Tzu-Chiao Lu
Tzu-Chiao.Lu@bcm.edu

Tzu-Chiao Lu PhD, Instructor

Tzu-Chiao is a molecular and computational biologist. He got his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from National Chung Cheng University and his PhD in Biology in National Defense Medical Center at Taiwan. He did his postdoc research with Ao-Lin Allen Hsu at National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, where he investigated aging mechanisms and performed scRNAseq profiling in worms. He joined Hongjie’s lab in July 2021 and his research focuses on single cell multi-omics data analysis to understand aging mechanisms and to identify longevity genes in Drosophila (Lu et al., 2023 Science).

Tyler Jackson, Graduate Student

Tyler is supported by NIH F31 fellowship.

Tyler received his bachelor’s degree in Biology, with an emphasis in Genetics and Biotechnology, from the University of Iowa in 2019. As an undergraduate, he investigated the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair, focusing on how defects in these pathways lead to large-scale chromosomal rearrangements—a phenomenon he explored across multiple public cancer datasets.

Tyler joined the Li Lab in February 2022, where he studies aging, neurodegeneration, and cancer initiation. His primary research interest lies in understanding how epigenetic regulation influences transcriptional output during aging. He is particularly interested in how long-lived organisms extend lifespan by modulating this interplay. Additionally, Tyler examines how accelerated aging phenotypes—such as inflammaging—disrupt transcriptional programs. To study these processes, he combines genetics with machine learning to map inter-organ communication and its role in driving age-associated decline.

Outside of the lab, Tyler is an avid weightlifter and enjoys the occasional run. He also values spending time with friends and engaging in activities beyond research.

Ye-Jin Park MS, Graduate Student

Ye-Jin received her bachelor’s degree in Biology Education in 2016 and master’s degree in 2018 from Seoul National University, Korea. For her master’s research, she studied the role of glial phosphatidylserine synthase in the development and maintenance of neuronal function. She has been working with fruit flies since 2014 and has extensive experience in fly genetics and neurobiology. In 2019, she joined Dr. Hugo Bellen’s lab as a research assistant, studying multiple undiagnosed rare neurological diseases.

Ye-Jin co-joined the Li Lab and the Bellen lab in March 2022. Her research focuses on neural development and neurological diseases, with the goal of addressing two main questions: 1) How transcription factors regulate neural wiring and circuit formation, and 2) How toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease disrupt neuronal function and affect peripheral tissues. To investigate these questions, she utilizes fly genetics and single-cell sequencing technologies. Through these innovative approaches, she aims to advance our understanding of complex neural circuits and the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.

Outside the lab, she enjoys cruising with music blasting from her subwoofer. Once a Jeep lover, she’s now devoted to her Bronco – someday, she hopes to wrap it in baby pink, perhaps after publishing two more papers. At home, she’s supervised by her cat Rorang, who makes sure she never works too hard.

Chung-Yi Liang PhD, Research scholar

Chung-Yi is a visiting scholar in Hongjie’s lab. She got her PhD degree in National Taiwan University and her PhD works is focused on transcriptional regulation in yeast. Then she joined Allen Ao-Lin Hsu’s lab to study aging using C. elegans. In 2022, she started to have the collaboration between Hongjie and Allen labs. She is lucky and happy to explore more about a fantastic animal model—fruit fly in aging field with the powerful snRNA-seq tools! In her free time, she enjoys cooking and foods!

Erin Harrison, Lab technician

Erin graduated from Rice University with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience in 2023. She worked in the Li Lab as an undergraduate for a year, investigating brain aging in Drosophila. She joined the lab full-time in June of 2023. She is involved in a variety of projects, but is especially interested in further characterizing the role of glial cells in brain aging. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running and hiking, especially with friends and family.

Bo Sun PhD, Postdoctoral fellow

Bo joined the Li Lab in 2023 November after his Ph.D. at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Germany. He majors in bioinformatics and works on multi-omic data analysis, AI-empowered biomedical research. He has years of experience on transcriptomics and proteomics data analysis and is interested in the advancement of deep-learning on biology. He likes to collaborate with colleagues and make contributions to academic research.

Yulong “Alex” Zhang PhD, Postdoctoral fellow

Yulong received his bachelor’s degree in Biological Science from Zhejiang University (ZJU) in June 2016, and completed his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Southern Medical University (SMU) in December 2023. He has experience working and entrepreneuring in the biomedical field.

In October 2024, Yulong joined the Li Lab as a postdoctoral associate in the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine. His current research explores the difference between aging- and Alzheimer’s Disease-caused chemosensory decline, using cutting-edge techniques like single-cell and spatial omics to uncover new insights. In his spare time, Yulong enjoys reading, running, swimming and playing basketball. He is always willing to share with his friends and help each other.

contact: yulong.zhang@bcm.edu

Zhiyong Yin PhD, Postdoctoral fellow

After earning his PhD in Genetics from Zhejiang University in September 2024, Zhiyong joined Hongjie’s lab as a postdoctoral associate in January 2025. Currently, Zhiyong is employing advanced single-nucleus RNA sequencing to explore the transcriptional remodeling associated with reproduction. He is also working to uncover the contributions of the reproductive system to the aging process and the distinctions between the sexes. Additionally, Zhiyong is interested in exploring the roles of translational regulation and ribosomes in aging. Furthermore, he aims to engage in aging research using other cutting-edge technologies and analytical methods, such as single-nucleus ATAC sequencing and deep learning.

Outside the lab, Zhiyong enjoys physical activities such as soccer and table tennis. Additionally, he likes watching movies and cooking.

contact: zhiyong.yin@bcm.edu

Shangyu Gong PhD, Postdoctoral fellow

Shangyu Gong obtained his Ph.D. in Oncology from the Sino-French Hoffmann Institute at Guangzhou Medical University. His doctoral research focused on the interaction between mitochondrial homeostasis and aging in Dr. Renjie Jiao’s lab, and he also received training in oncology and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis in Dr. Wu-min Deng’s lab. Following his doctoral studies, he completed two years of postdoctoral training at the Southern University of Science and Technology, focusing on hematology and lipid metabolism.

In January 2025, Shangyu joined the Li lab as a postdoctoral associate at the Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine. His current research explores the mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases using single-cell multi-omics data, genetics, and molecular biology in Drosophila, with a particular emphasis on mitochondria and inflammation.

His primary objective is to leverage AI-empowered methods and multi-omics data analysis to identify pivotal nodes within complex aging regulation networks. Building on this foundation, Shangyu’s ultimate goal is to translate these insights into tangible interventions. By employing a multidisciplinary approach combining genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry, he aims to elucidate druggable targets within the identified core nodes. These targets represent potential intervention points to modulate the aging process and, crucially, to enhance human healthspan.

contact: shangyu.gong@bcm.edu

Undergraduate student

Lindsey is a sophomore at Rice University majoring in Neuroscience. She joined the Li Lab in September 2022. Outside of lab, she plays violin for residents in local hospitals and nursing homes and writes for the university newspaper. She also enjoys reading and scrapbooking in her free time.

Undergraduate student

Christina is a sophomore at Rice University majoring in Neuroscience. She worked in the Saltz lab in Spring 2023, where she developed an interest in Drosophila flies. She joined the Li Lab in June 2023 and is helping out with several projects. Outside of the lab, she loves eating food, going on walks outside, and watching good shows.

Rotation

Niccole Auld, Cancer & Cell Biology program. 2021 March – 2021 May
Jinghan Zhao, Neuroscience program. 2021 August – 2021 October
Ye-Jin Park, DDMT program. 2021 October – 2021 December
Tyler Jackson, Cancer & Cell Biology program. 2022 January – 2022 March
Harim Delgado-Seo, Neuroscience program. 2022 March – 2022 May
Jiaye Chen, QCB program. 2022 August – 2022 October
Joseph Zoeller, QCB program. 2022 August – 2022 October
Yang Zhang, QCB program. 2022 October -2022 December
Ryan Cheng, QCB program. 2023 August – 2023 October
Jiaxiang Zhang, Neuroscience program. 2023 August – 2023 October
Tzu-Hsuan Huang, DDMT program. 2023 October – 2023 December
Xinyu Wang, DDMT program. 2024 August – 2024 October
Justin Dhindsa, MD/PhD student. 2024 August – 2024 October