RNA Featured Researcher – Yaping Liu, Program in Biophysics
Yaping Liu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Program in Biophysics, Sarah Keane Lab
- Who/what brings you to science?
A curiosity to know how to use various imaging techniques to observe biological macromolecules in three dimensions to understand their structure, function, and interactions.
- What are your research interests?
Understanding the molecular basis of noncoding RNA function by solving high-resolution structures at different stages using NMR, Cryo-EM, and other imaging approaches.
- What do you hope is the outcome/impact of your research?
I hope the structure of RNA can provide atomic basis for understanding RNA function and designing inhibitors specifically targeting RNA that are involved in human disease.
- What advice would you give to students who’d like to get involved in research?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to labs. Science is a process of constantly discovering and solving problems. Don’t be afraid of failures.
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Besides as a researcher, I would like to spend more time travelling and doing outdoor sports.
- What are your longer-term career aspirations?
I plan to pursue a deeper understanding of RNA function and structure. Ultimately, I hope this understanding will broaden our view of disease and, in particular, provide more opportunities for RNA-based therapeutics.