Shuyao Kong, Ph.D.

Shuyao Kong, Ph.D.

Postdoc @Harvard Medical School & Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Plant Biology (Ph.D.); Tsinghua University School of Life Sciences, Department of Biological Science (B.S.)

I am interested in how cells interact among each other to self-organize into complex and functional structures. As an undergraduate, I studied how the plant root apical meristem communicates with other plant tissues about nutrient availability, integrating this information to regulate root growth. During my PhD, I investigated how cells of the floral meristem transport auxin to create precisely positioned signaling maxima that guide floral organ initiation. Currently, as a postdoc, I am exploring how HOX genes mediate the recognition between spinal motoneurons and their muscle targets to form correct neuromuscular circuits, using in vitro human stem cell models. In my spare time, I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee and dragon boat racing. 

Interests
  • Cell fate determination
  • Patterning
  • Morphogenesis