Born and raised in China, Zunlong experienced education and culture in China, the US, the UK, and Germany. 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 a beginner level. He is well-trained in foosball, aka "Tischkicker", during his stay in the UK and Europe.

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Zunlong started the lab in February 2024.

Chang Liu 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 obtained her PhD from the University of Chicago and joined the lab in August 2024.

Jianbin Chen is a postdoctoral fellow interested in structural biology and virology. His research focuses on understanding how viruses assemble, interact with host cells, and carry out their functions at the molecular level. He uses cryo-EM and cryo-ET to explore the structures and mechanisms of viral systems and protein complexes. Outside the lab, Jianbin enjoys basketball, hiking, movies, and traveling to new places.

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Jianbin obtained his PhD from the University of California, Riverside, and joined the lab in July 2026.

Alexandra (Lexi) Beaver 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 on the expression of interleukin in cancer cells. She then worked in a disinfectant testing laboratory in Austin, TX. Lexi then joined the lab of Dr. Shannon Weigum at Texas State University. Her Master thesis focused on the development of a novel SARS-CoV-2 RNA isolation technique for use in wastewater-based epidemiology. 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.

Xinyi Yao is a PhD student in the Cell and Molecular Biology program. She received her B.S. degree from Nanjing Medical University, where she developed research experience in experimental biology and laboratory-based research. She is interested in applying cryo-EM and cryo-ET to study the structures of viruses and protein complexes from native environments, while also learning new computational methods for structural and data analysis. Outside the lab, she enjoys watching drama series and traveling.

Xinyi joined the lab in Spring 2026 as a first-year PhD student.

Maily Nguyen is an 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.

Brendon Quan is an undergraduate majoring in biology at UT Austin, with a focus on microbiology and infectious diseases. He is interested in vaccine and antiviral development and how it relates to the structural aspects of viruses. He plans to attend medical school and pursue pathology. Outside the lab, He enjoys 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 Penna is an undergraduate student majoring in 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.

Patrick McKenna is an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S.E in Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, he plans on attending medical school and pursuing his interest in drug development. Outside the lab, you can find him rowing or biking around Austin.​

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Patrick joined the lab in Fall 2024 as a 1st-year undergraduate.

Mahith Ravulapati is an undergraduate pursuing a B.S in Biomedical Engineering at UT Austin. He is very interested in computational simulations of viral structures as well as antiviral treatments and vaccine development. Outside the lab, Mahith loves to play basketball, workout, and play chess. 

Mahith joined the lab in December 2025 as a 3rd-year undergraduate.