YUXING DAI (FRANK)

PhD candidate in Pharmacology (Sun Yat-sen University) combining hands-on wet-lab disease modeling with single-cell RNA-seq and quantitative proteomics. 12+ peer-reviewed publications in JCR-Q1 journals (169+ citations), including 3 first-author and 2 co-first-author papers. Trained to design rigorous, multi-step experiments and interpret complex biological data — ready to translate that expertise into high-quality challenge creation and AI model evaluation for the life sciences.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Wet-lab + computation hybrid — designed in-vivo studies and validated findings computationally (scRNA-seq, LC-MS/MS proteomics, transcriptomics)
• Multi-step experimental reasoning — expert in controls, confounders, reproducibility, and data interpretation across cardiovascular, neurological, and pulmonary models
• Broad molecular modality coverage — DNA/RNA biology, protein assays (Western blot, ELISA, mass-spec proteomics), gene expression, small-molecule drug discovery
• Active academic researcher — PhD candidate at SYSU with ongoing research programs and current institutional affiliation
• Computational fluency — R, Python, bioinformatics pipelines, deep learning for omics, open-source tool development

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

• Designed and executed multi-arm in-vivo studies on drug-induced cardiotoxicity and heart failure, with rigorous control groups, blinding, and reproducibility protocols
• Performed scRNA-seq and computational analysis to map cell-type-specific injury mechanisms in cardiovascular disease, bridging omics data with bench validation
• Integrated quantitative proteomics (LC-MS/MS) with histological and functional endpoints in chronic e-cigarette exposure studies, identifying differentially expressed proteins and perturbed pathways across cardiovascular and pulmonary systems
• Developed therapeutic leads (cryptotanshinone derivative DST-3) for ischemic stroke, combining SAR-informed design with in-vivo neuroprotection assays
• Built bioinformatics pipelines (R, Python) for transcriptomic data processing, differential expression, pathway enrichment, and multi-omics integration
• Validated computational findings at the bench via Western blot, ELISA, qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry across three disease domains (cardiovascular, neurological, fibrotic)

FIRST-AUTHOR PUBLICATIONS

1. Zhang J, Dai Y (co-first), Yu J, Chen Y, et al. “SNX3 exacerbates hepatic fibrosis by amplifying TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in hepatocyte-HSC fibrotic loop.” Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2026.06.021

2. Dai Y, Yu J, He G, et al. “DST-3, a novel cryptotanshinone derivate, attenuates glutamate excitotoxicity after ischemic stroke via CREB-Homer1 axis activation.” Phytomedicine 147, 157223 (2025). IF 8.3

   Cited: 2

3. Dai Y, Yang W, Song H, et al. “Long-term effects of chronic exposure to electronic cigarette aerosol on the cardiovascular and pulmonary system in mice: A comparative study to cigarette smoke.” Environment International 185, 108521 (2024). IF 9.7

   Cited: 25 — includes quantitative proteomics

4. Dai Y, Duan K, Huang G, et al. “Inhalation of electronic cigarettes slightly affects lung function and inflammation in mice.” Frontiers in Toxicology 5, 1232040 (2023). IF 4.6

   Cited: 13

5. Peng X, Dai Y (co-first), Chen J, et al. “Phytochemical Analysis and Neuroprotective Effect of Salvia castanea Diels f. Tomentosa Stib Extracts.” Pharmaceuticals 18(5), 728 (2025). IF 4.8

   Cited: 2

Additional contributions to 7+ co-authored publications in JCR-Q1 journals including Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (IF 7.5, 51 citations), BMC Public Health (IF 3.6, 64 citations), European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (IF 5.9), and others.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

EDUCATION

AWARD

National Scholarship for Graduate Students — Ministry of Education of China, 2024