STUDENT

Chang Liu
master of science in biology
Chang Liu was a student at
Liaoning Normal University
when she attended a presentation by
Dr. Yixin Yang.
“Intrigued by his lab’s research, I
talked to him after the presentation.
And from this conversation, I got to
know excellent graduate programs
and numerous training opportunities
at ESU,” said Liu.
Liu applied and spent her master’s
career working as a graduate
research assistant with Yang as
her major professor.
“Despite substantial advances in
cancer prevention and treatment
in the past decades, cancer is still
the second leading cause of death
in United States, partially because
current cancer therapies are largely
limited by their side effects. Therefore,
I wanted to discover the critical factors
affecting their growth and provide the
potential efficient treatment for it,”
Liu explained.
Liu was ambitious in her research
goals, pursuing a better understanding
of molecular mechanisms for antitumor
effects of natural plant extracts.
Liu’s research was multi-faceted,
initially studying effects of a spectrum
of herbal extracts on different cancer
cell lines. Results from the initial study
led to a chain of studies, running
numerous assays and real-time
polymer chain reactions.
Her passion for cancer research
continued into her Pharmacology
Ph.D. program at the University of
Minnesota, Twin Cities, where her
research involved structural and
functional studies of cell surface
proteases in tumor progression and
virus infection.
Liu has published six papers through
publications like the Journal of
Virology and Journal of Biology and
Chemistry during her doctorateseeking
career, one of which was
featured in over 10 media and press
outlets and is in the 99th percentile of
all articles ranked by online attention.
Liu has accepted a post-doctorate
position following completion of her
doctorate degree.
“
... cancer is still the second
leading cause of death in
United States, partially
because current cancer
therapies are largely limited
by their side effects.
Therefore, I wanted to
discover the critical factors
affecting their growth
and provide the potential
efficient treatment for it,
-Chang Liu
”
EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY
23