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About Me

About Me

Myself

A Brief Introduction

Hello! I'm Xi Yang (Ian), a passionate Chemist and an aspiring expert in the integration of artificial intelligence with Biology and Chemistry. I am currently a Master's student in Bioinformatics at the University of Edinburgh, and I will also be starting my PhD here in October 2024.

Education

I hold an MChem in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh, where I developed a strong foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of chemistry and drug design. I am constantly building my skills in data analysis and the application of machine learning techniques in biological data through my second Master's degree in Bioinformatics.

Professional Experience

As a Peer Support Student Coordinator (similar to a Project Coordinator) at Edinburgh's School of Chemistry, I lead a team to develop innovative peer support models that assist students in their academic and personal development. Throughout my time in this role, I've gone above and beyond my job description and was awarded the Student Experience Grant to organise site visits to 3 chemical companies for 40 students, further enhancing the student experience and pioneering academia-industry collaborations. This role has perfected my skills in project management, teamwork, and leadership.

Research and Projects

My research interests lie at the intersection of Chemistry, Biology and AI. I have worked on several projects across different fields of chemistry, including the development of 2 sustainable large-scale pharmaceutical processes that eliminated the use of hazardous reagents by a wopping annual amount of 230,000 litres; the development of 2 bioinformatics programmes using Python and Bash; and currnetly I am working on the pipeline development for a diffusion model for molecular generation under the background of antimicrobial resistance.

Future Goals

Looking forward, I aim to contribute to research in using understanding complex biological pathways of single cells, by using the immense power of machine learning. I am someone who is curious about everything, and I am particularly interested in opportunities that allow me to combine my expertise in chemistry and bioinformatics to solve real-world problems.

  • Student Experience Grant: Secured over £4500 to spearhead industry-academia collaborations with 3 chemical companies;
  • 2023 Community Prize: Recognition of my outstanding contribution to the School of Chemistry;
  • Edinburgh Award (Leadership in Student Opportunities): Recognition of my leadership as a Peer Support Student Coordinator;
  • Edinburgh Award (Resident Assistants): Recognition of my work as a Resident Assistant in student accommodation;
  • Edinburgh Award (Students' Association: Representing Students): Recognition of my work as a Student Representative for my Chemistry programme;
  • Edinburgh Award (Work and Volunteering Experience): Recognition of my work as a Student Researcher as part of the Student as Change Agents programme;
  • Edinburgh Award (Work Experience): Recognition of my work experience as a Barista at the Student Union.