Principal Investigator

Yuru Wang, PhD 

yuru.wang@pharm.utah.edu

 

Yuru joined the faculty of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Utah in October 2023 as an Assistant Professor. Before this, she was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Chicago, working under the joint supervision of Professors Chuan He and Tao Pan. Yuru completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry in Professor Peter Beal’s lab at UC Davis, and earned her B.S. from Nankai University in China. Outside the lab, Yuru enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking.

Postdoc Researcher

Wenxin Zhao, PhD 

I’m Wenxin Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher in the Wang Lab at the University of Utah, College of Pharmacy. I recently earned my Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Riverside, where I studied protein-DNA interactions and DNA repair mechanisms. My current work explores how RNA modifications shape molecular function, using biochemical tools and a love for tackling complex proteins. Outside the lab, I’m a passionate photographer, a curious beginner on the ski slopes, and someone who enjoys exploring Utah’s scenic trails—especially those lined with trees, flowing streams.

Graduate Student

Brittany Strobelt

Brittany is a PhD student in the Wang lab. After earning a B.A. in English from BYU and working in marketing for several years, she went back to school and obtained a B.S. in Biotechnology from UVU. She then worked in Genetic Sequencing at ARUP Laboratories and then Analytical Chemistry at bioMerieux before pursuing her PhD. Outside of the lab, she enjoys weightlifting, hiking, running, and taking long walks with her husband. 

Lab Technician

William Egan 

William is a fresh Biological Sciences graduate from LSU with an adeptness in biology and chemistry and a passion for both. William has looked far and wide for new and interesting opportunities to prove himself and spearhead novel research. The Wang Lab fittingly allows him to contribute his expertise in a laboratory setting and develop new skills on the fly pertaining to RNA modification. When not on the job William like to go on hikes, listen to progressive rock, or spend long nights composing music on the keyboard.

Alumni

Roan Senna: 2023-2024 Undergraduate student