Area(s) of Expertise: Cell and molecular biology, Fly genetics, Developmental biology, Human anatomy and physiology, Neuroscience (Advising Area of Expertise: Pre-Medicine)
Dr. Qian’s research focuses on using fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model organism to understand stem cell proliferation and differentiation in tissue homeostasis and axonal transport and its role in human neurodegenerative diseases. Potential roles for students include fly genetics, bioinformatics, molecular cloning, immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blotting, and behavior assays.
Dr. Qian is also interested in pedagogical research. She has been studying the role of mnemonics in affecting both short-term and long-term knowledge retention in content heavy courses, such as Human Anatomy and Physiology.
Malpe MS, McSwain LF, Kudyba K, Ng CL, Nicholson J, Brady M, Qian Y, Choksi V*, Hudson AG, Parrott BB, Schulz C (2020) G-protein signaling is required for increasing germline stem cell division frequency in response to mating in Drosophila males. Sci Rep 10(1):3888
Ng CL, Qian Y, Schulz C (2019) Notch and Delta are required for survival of the germline stem cell lineage in testes of Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS ONE 14(9): e0222471.
Davis A, Nguyen H*, and Qian J. 2019. Zebrafish Embryos and Bioinformatics: Useful and Marketable Exercises for Students Enrolled in Upper-Level Undergraduate Courses, Eastern Biologist. Special Issue 1:47–63
Qian Y, Ng CL, Schulz C. 2015. CSN maintains the germline cellular microenvironment and controls the level of stem cell genes via distinct CRLs in testes of Drosophila Melanogaster. Developmental Biology 398(1):68-79.
Qian Y, Dominado N, Zoller R, Ng C, et al. 2014. Ecdysone signaling opposes epidermal growth factor signaling in regulating cyst differentiation in the male gonad of Drosophila Melanogaster. Developmental Biology 394(2):217-27.
Hudson A, Parrott BB, Qian Y, Schulz C. 2013. A temporal signature of epidermal growth factor signaling regulates the differentiation of germline cells in testes of Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS One 8(8):e70678.
Ng C, Qian Y, and Schulz C. Notch signaling is required for survival of the germline stem cell lineage in testes of Drosophila melanogaster. (submitted)
Qian Y and Schulz C. comeback - a novel gene regulates germline stem cell daughter proliferation and differentiation in female Drosophila melanogaster. (in preparation)
* undergraduate students
Dr. Qian used to do pencil sketch and gouache for many years and almost went to be an architect. She loves baking and is good at making Portuguese egg tarts and Basque Burnt cheesecake.