Li Tai Fang, Ph.D. (415) 672-4983 ltfang@gmail.com Summary of Qualifications: ------------------------------------------------- * The only student in UCLA Biochemistry during my time to publish a single-authored research paper * George Gregory Research Award in Physical Chemistry by UCLA Department of Chemistry * Published 6 peer-reviewed articles in highly respected scientific journals * Proven expertise in Mathematical Modeling, Statistical Mechanics, MATLAB programming, and Linux * Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Shanghainese Dialect (US Citizen) * Co-organizer of the Business Club at UCSF Professional Experience: ------------------------------------------------- University of California, San Francisco, CA Statistical Analyst, Postdoctoral 2011 - Present * Contributes computational expertise to a team of physicians, molecular biologists, and geneticists, in order to understand the massive amount of genetic data associated with different types of lung cancers. * Participating the "Idea to IPO 2012" bioentrepreneurship course, by building a business plan around a new technology aimed at improving spatial accuracy of Microsoft Kinect. Vicaya Energy, Los Angeles, CA Data and Policy Researcher, September, 2010 - March, 2011 Advised a start-up renewable energy organization on scientific and science policy issues relating to solar energy. * Analyzed data associated with the cost of building and maintaining residential solar panels in Southern California The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel Theoretical Biophysicist, Postdoctoral, March, 2010 - September, 2010 Completed and formalized a mathematical theory regarding the secondary structure of RNA molecules during a 6-month research fellowship. The work has resulted in two first-authored publications in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B and the Journal of Chemical Physics. * Developed an intuitive RNA-folding model and implemented its computer simulation algorithm based on the work by Professor Ben-Shaul * Discovered a scaling law between RNA's 3D size and its linear length * Presented my theory of Randomly Self-Paired Polymers to the faculty of Fritz Haber Research Center for Molecular Dynamics UCLA Department of Chemistry, Los Angeles, CA Teaching Assistant (during grad school), 2004 - 2010 Led a total of 9 discussion and laboratory sections for upper division courses in: * Statistical Mechanics * Physical Biochemistry * Biochemistry Methods * Chemical Thermodynamics * Quantum Mechanics National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland Visiting Biochemist, Winter, 2007 Contributed both experimental and computational expertise in an effort to understand the DNA packaging process in bacterial viruses using Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). The results are published in Physical Review Letters. * Trained my NIH collaborators to purify viruses, viral DNA, and proteins * Presented single-molecule experimental results on viruses at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development * Contributed calculation to the DNA packaging problem US Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA Volunteer Student Researcher, 2001 - 2003 Conducted a series of laboratory and on-the-field studies under the direction of Plant Mycotoxin Division, related to fungal problem affecting California's nuts industry. * Identified a number of yeast strains as biocontrol agents against aflatoxin-producing fungi, helping the US pistachio industry solve their pest problems without using chemical pesticides Education: ------------------------------------------------- University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D. Biochemistry, September, 2003 - March, 2010 Conducted both experimental and theoretical/computational research on viruses and their genetic materials. On my own initiative, implemented my ideas to solve a problem regarding the physical properties of RNA molecules. Published 5 peer-reviewed articles: one of which is sole-authored. * Advisors: Professors William M. Gelbart and Charles M. Knobler * George Gregory Research Award in Physical Chemistry ($1000 annual cash award for one grad student), Nov. 2009 * The only student in Professor Gelbart's 35-year faculty career and in the UCLA Biochemistry Department during my time to publish a sole-authored peer-reviewed research article * Thesis: The Physics of DNA, RNA, and RNA-like Polymers - Developed a mathematical model to calculate the end-to-end distance of RNA molecules - Measured the bending and electrostatic energies of DNA in viruses - Discovered an additional force involved in the translocation of virus genome - Contributed to the fundamental understanding of viruses, relevant to genetic engineering efforts using viruses as delivery vehicles University of California, Berkeley B.A. Molecular and Cell Biology, August, 1999 - May, 2003 * GRE scores: 800 in quantitative; 770 in analytical (out of 800) * SAT scores: 800 in math, 730 in physics Peer-Reviewed Publications: ------------------------------------------------- Li Tai Fang. The End-to-End Distance of RNA as a Randomly Self-Paired Polymer. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 280: 101-107. (2011) Li Tai Fang, William M. Gelbart, and Avinoam Ben-Shaul. The Size of RNA as an Ideal Branched Polymer. Journal of Chemical Physics, 135(15): 155105. (2011) Li Tai Fang, Aron M. Yoffe, William M. Gelbart and Avinoam Ben-Shaul. A Sequential Folding Model Predicts Length-Independent Secondary Structure Properties of Long ssRNA. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 115(12): 3193-3199. (2011) Xiangyun Qiu, Donald C. Rau, V. Adrian Parsegian, Li Tai Fang, Charles M. Knobler, William M. Gelbart. Salt-Dependent DNA-DNA Spacings in Intact Bacteriophage Reflect Relative Importance of DNA Self-Repulsion and Bending Energies. Physical Review Letters, 106: 028102. (2011) Peter Prinsen, Li Tai Fang, Aron M. Yoffe, Charles M. Knobler, and William M. Gelbart. The Force Acting on a Polymer Partially Confined in a Tube. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 113(12): 3873-3879. (2009) Alex Evilevitch, Li Tai Fang, Aron M. Yoffe, Martin Castelnovo, Donald C. Rau, V. Adrian Parsegian, William M. Gelbart, and Charles M. Knobler. Effects of Salt Concentrations and Bending Energy on the Extent of Ejection of Phage Genomes. Biophysical Journal, 94(3): 1110-20. (2008) Languages: ------------------------------------------------- Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Shanghainese Dialect Programming and Computing: ------------------------------------------------- * MATLAB programming language * Linux / UNIX / BASH scripting * LaTeX typesetting language * Microsoft Windows / Word / Excel / PowerPoint - Used Sun Grid Engine (SGE) to run simulation on computing clusters - Built PC from individual components - Installed 3rd-party firmwares in wireless routers - Host home server using HTTP and SSH protocols Technical Expertise: ------------------------------------------------- * Small-angle X-ray Scattering at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lab * Small-angle Neutron Scattering at National Institute of Standards and Technology * Fluorescence Microscopy at California NanoSystems Institute * Microfluidic Flow Cell to Visualize Viral DNA * Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) to identify proteins * Virus / DNA / Protein Purification and Identification * Organic Synthesis of Lipid-like Polymers Leadership Experience: ------------------------------------------------- Co-organizer of the Business Club at UCSF, 2011 - Present * Manage the club's website, LinkedIn and Facebook groups, mass email subscription list, and all things IT * Co-organize monthly seminars and social events featuring highly successful business professionals in life science Tournament Director of UCLA Club Tennis, 2008 - 2009 * Ran 2 club tournaments per quarter, including a Tennis on Campus event sponsored by the United States Tennis Association, with 100+ participants from 11 Southern California universities * Resolved a crisis that developed 18 hours before a 50-player tournament, when Facility Management did not book the requested courts, by securing an alternative site Treasurer of UCLA Club Tennis, 2008 - 2010 * Managed the club's finance and procurement of equipment * Organized 40 members for a trip to the Indian Wells Masters Tennis Tournament ------------------------------------------------- http://www.linkedin.com/in/ltfang/