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 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 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.

Hrishita is originally from India and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences. She moved to the U.S. to pursue her Master’s in Biotechnology at Texas A&M University. Her research background spans molecular virology, biomarker analysis, and assay development, with experience from both GSK and Texas A&M. She is particularly interested in understanding how viruses interact with host cellular machinery and the development of antiviral strategies. Outside of the lab, Hrishita loves hiking, spontaneous nature getaways, playing sports, and binge-watching Netflix. Whether she's troubleshooting an assay or finding the perfect trail mix, she brings curiosity and energy to everything she does.

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Hrishita joined the lab in July 2025.

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.

Meng is a PHD student in the Cell and Molecular Biology program. His research background spans molecular biology, computational biology, and cancer biology. He is currently working on the structural study of viruses, with a specific focus on Hepatitis C Virus. He aims to develop expertise in virology and structural biology and ultimately contribute to rational vaccine design. Outside the lab, Meng enjoys sports, music, and exploring new interests.

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

Xinyi 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.

Krishna is an undergraduate 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Marqelle is an undergraduate student at UT Austin pursuing a B.S. in Human Biology. Previously, she conducted research in the FRI stream, Urban Ecosystems, devising methods to effectively quantify phthalate levels in order to assess exposure and inform strategies to reduce negative health effects. She is interested in examining how viral structure defines interactions with the host immune system. Through her research, she aims to help identify novel viral drug targets and contribute to the development of improved therapeutics and vaccines. In her free time, she enjoys making playlists, writing poetry, watching classic films, and experimenting with fashion styling.

Marqelle joined the lab in Spring 2026 as a fourth-year undergraduate.