[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”0deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.62) 0%|#ffdbaa 100%” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” background_blend=”overlay” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”6px||27px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”36px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”||on|on|||||” header_text_color=”#231f20″ header_font_size=”31px” animation_direction=”right” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.62) 0%|#ffdbaa 100%” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” background_blend=”overlay” custom_padding=”0.3%|0px|0.3%|0px|true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_6,1_6,1_6″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”20px||20px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” background_blend=”overlay” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_text_color=”#000000″ header_font=”|800||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#231f20″ header_font_size=”55px” header_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” border_width_bottom=”3px” border_color_bottom=”#ffdbaa” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_6″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/gates-chiang.jpg” filter_opacity=”40%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_6″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/graduate-profile-hsu.jpg” background_blend=”overlay” filter_opacity=”40%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_6″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/berry-award-fu.jpg” background_blend=”overlay” filter_opacity=”40%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”15px||15px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.62) 0%|#ffdbaa 100%” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” background_blend=”overlay” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Chiang_Claire.png” alt=”photo of Claire Chiang” title_text=”Claire Chiang” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” transform_translate=”20px|20px” transform_translate_linked=”off” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|600|||||||” header_line_height=”1.2em” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
When it comes to animals and research, Claire Chiang gives a hoot.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I imagined my future, I was solely veterinary, like I was going to work in a clinic with dogs and cats and have a great time,\u201d said Chiang, who graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in biological sciences<\/a><\/span> and a minor in environmental and sustainability studies. \u201cAfter doing research, I realized I really enjoyed it. I\u2019m starting to think about seeing myself as a veterinarian who pursues research.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the places where Chiang has cared and studied animals is Pittsburgh\u2019s National Aviary, where she worked as a veterinary hospital intern and helped a myriad of patients from egrets to crowned pigeons to penguins.<\/p>\n Chiang found ways to connect her passion for veterinary medicine with her dedication to developmental biology.<\/p>\n Chiang formed an interest in developmental biology research through taking Honors Modern Biology with Jonathan Minden<\/a><\/span>, professor of biological sciences. Afterward, worked with Minden to investigate the molecular mechanisms that occur as fruit flies, Drosophilia, develop as embryos.<\/p>\n Chiang also did research at the University of Pittsburgh with Kevin Kohl, where she investigated digestive enzymes in rodents. She served as a supplemental instructor, a teaching assistant, the president of CMU Sustainable Earth<\/a><\/span> and a member of Carnegie Mellon\u2019s Health Professions Program<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n Because of her hard work in and out of the classroom, Chiang was honored with Carnegie Mellon\u2019s K&L Gates Prize<\/span><\/a><\/span>. The $5,000 award is given to one graduating student every year.<\/p>\n This fall, Chiang will attend Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine as she pursues a doctor of veterinary medicine.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Kirsten Heuring<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”15px||15px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.62) 0%|#ffdbaa 100%” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” background_blend=”overlay” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Hsu_Alexander.png” alt=”photo of Alex Hsu” title_text=”Alex Hsu” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” transform_translate=”20px|20px” transform_translate_linked=”off” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|600|||||||” header_line_height=”1.2em” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Doctoral candidate Alex Hsu was awarded the Glen de Vries Fellowship for the Biological Sciences for his research using computational methods to analyze neuroscience data.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has always been my plan to learn how to analyze big data better and establish where machine learning can benefit neuroscientists,\u201d Hsu said. \u201cI wanted to learn how to analyze big data with machine learning.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of the Yttri lab<\/a><\/span>, Hsu created software to process large behavioral data to find correlations in neuroscience data. He records multiple points of data from mice. The data is fed into a computer application he created, which determines which neural impulses cause which movements.<\/p>\n Hsu and Yttri want to apply their research to Parkinson\u2019s disease patients. By recognizing what impulses cause which movements, they could find a way to target and limit those impulses.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we understand that a certain brain circuit has gone awry for whatever reason during a proposed movement, we can use our software to selectively stimulate when the action is detected,\u201d Hsu said.<\/p>\n Hsu shares the program with other labs across the country. The program can be used to study other neurological conditions, such as chronic pain and OCD.<\/p>\n \u25a0 Kirsten Heuring<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”15px||15px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.62) 0%|#ffdbaa 100%” background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” background_blend=”overlay” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Fu_Xuecong.png” alt=”photo of Xuecong Fu holding a diploma” title_text=”Xuecong Fu” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” transform_translate=”20px|20px” transform_translate_linked=”off” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|600|||||||” header_line_height=”1.2em” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Xuecong Fu computes new ways to understand and treat cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cI really like developing new algorithms that fit different applications,\u201d said Fu, a Ph.D. student. \u201cSince current biological technology is evolving fast, computational tools also need to evolve.\u201d<\/p>\n Fu\u2019s work is gaining recognition. She received the Mellon College of Science<\/a><\/span>\u2019s Guy C. Berry Graduate Research Award<\/a>,<\/span> which honors excellence in research by Ph.D. students.<\/p>\n Fu developed computational methods and algorithms to understand how tumors progress. Her machine learning algorithms determine how cell populations grow and change during tumor progression. Her tools also process mutation histories from individual patients and compare them to genetic trees of tumors.<\/p>\n Fu\u2019s current work uses liquid biopsy samples, a new technology that extracts tumor DNA fragments from blood in a less intrusive way. Fu is building a computational tool to identify biological markers to measure patients\u2019 subclonal cell populations and better identify the tumor evolutionary history of a specific patient.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hoping that we are able to find significant results in patients\u2019 subclonal population changes after surgery or chemotherapy by using those biomarkers,\u201d Fu said. \u201cI think these findings can help guide treatment for specific patients.\u201d<\/p>\n \u25a0 Kirsten Heuring<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#1f4c4c” custom_padding=”30px|0px|30px|0px|false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” 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have a great time,\u201d said Chiang, who graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":1732,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3189","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3189"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3883,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3189\/revisions\/3883"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}HSU EARNS BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES FELLOWSHIP<\/h1>\n
FU HONORED WITH BERRY GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARD<\/h1>\n