I grew up in China and later moved to London for my studies. I first completed an MSc in Molecular Medicine at Imperial College London and then stayed on for a PhD in Biochemistry and Cell Biology under the supervision of Dr Birgit Leitinger. During my PhD, I focused on understanding how mutations in the collagen receptor DDR2 cause the rare connective tissue disorder Warburg Cinotti syndrome. This work gave me a strong foundation in cell signalling and protein biochemistry, which I now carry into my postdoctoral research. At King’s College London, I am exploring how a receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase shapes actin polymerisation and related signalling pathways in the context of vaccinia virus infection. When I’m not thinking about signalling pathways, I’m usually knitting, hiking, or negotiating sofa space with my two cats, Tiffany and Pepper.