Born and raised in China, Zunlong experienced education and culture in China, the US, the UK, and Europe. Before UT Austin, he did his postdoc with John Briggs and PhD with Elizabeth Wright.

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Outside the lab, Zunlong likes all kinds of sports, cycling, badminton, hiking, you name it. He is a big fan of skiing in the Alps, though only at beginner level. He is well trained in foosball "Tischkicker" during his stay in the UK and Europe.

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Zunlong started the lab in February 2024.

Chang is a postdoctoral fellow engaged in structural biology, where she concentrates on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of proteins and viruses. Her approach integrates cryo-EM, cryo-ET, and X-ray crystallography to probe the interactions and functions of protein complexes within cells, as well as the structures and entry mechanisms of virions. Beyond the lab, she indulges in the complex plots of detective novels and enjoys the freedom of skating, activities that provide a refreshing balance to her research-focused endeavors.

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Chang joined the lab in August 2024.

Alexandra (Lexi) is originally from a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. Lexi earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Missouri – Columbia where she studied the effect of fruit extracts in cancer cell interleukin expression. She then worked in a disinfectant testing laboratory in Austin, TX where she validated hospital-grade virucides. Lexi then went on to join the lab of Dr. Shannon Weigum at Texas State University. Her thesis focused on the development of a novel SARS-CoV-2 RNA isolation technique for use in wastewater-based epidemiology. Lexi then joined the Ke lab as a research assistant. She is broadly interested in structural virology, with a focus on informing structure-based therapeutic and vaccine design. Outside the lab, Lexi likes to hike, go to estate sales, and play video games!

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Lexi joined the lab in May 2024.

Helen is interested in structural studies of viruses and their interactions with antibodies, ultimately improving our understanding of immune recognition of infectious diseases. By using advanced cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) technologies, she hopes to reconstruct the 3D molecular architecture of these infectious virions in their fully assembled native state. Outside the lab, she is a gardener and enjoys reading and music.​​

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Helen joined the lab in March 2024.

Meiqiao is a graduate student in Biochemistry in the ILS Program. Her research interests focus on the intersection of infectious disease and structural biology, where she would like to study how structural insights can inform us about pathogen mechanisms and progression. Outside the lab, she loves cooking and staying active through tennis or pickleball.

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Mei started her rotation in the lab in August 2024.

Krishna is a third-year undergraduate student currently pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, she plans to matriculate into medical school where she plans to continue researching. She is interested in determining cell and protein structures to determine their role in infectivity, as well as the computational aspect of the analysis of scientific data. When not in the lab, you can find her exploring cafes around Austin, hiking trails, and spending time with friends. She also enjoys reading about art history and trying new recipes.​​

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Krishna joined the lab in Spring 2024 as a 2nd-year undergraduate.

Maily is a current second-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in biochemistry. She plans to attend medical school after earning her degree and she is interested in researching how viral structures contribute to their mechanisms. Outside the lab, you can find her lion dancing, exploring Austin restaurants, and going on walks in the city! 

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​Maily joined the lab in Spring 2024 as a 1st-year undergraduate.

I am a second-year biology major at UT Austin, with a focus on microbiology and infectious diseases. I am interested in vaccine and antiviral development and how it relates to the structural aspects of viruses. I plan to attend medical school and pursue pathology. Outside the lab, I enjoy going to the gym, playing video games with friends, and electric skateboarding around campus. ​

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Brendon joined the lab in Spring 2024 as a 1st-year undergraduate.

Gautam is a sophomore studying Neuroscience at UT Austin. He loves the crossover between bioinformatics and wet lab procedures the lab conducts. Outside of the lab, he is an avid calisthenics athlete and loves to be outdoors.​

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Gautam joined the lab in Spring 2024 as a 1st-year undergraduate.