Ashley Luo
Champaign
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Junior R&D Engineer
Medleading Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Collaborated with the team to develop and optimize IVD CLIA reagents, including 8 cardiolipin assays, 4 thyroid function assays, and 8 tumor marker assays.
- Completed production of 8 cardiolipin assays (2,000 tests) and 4 thyroid function assays (10,000 tests).
- Learn the Four-Parameter Logistic (4PL) model for curve fitting. Master the operation of chemiluminescence instruments and laboratory preparation techniques.
- Optimize R&D processes and reagent ratios to enhance product testing efficiency.
Researcher
Extended Project Qualification
08.2023 - 04.2024
- Applied linear regression and mediation analysis (R) to model cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease using A4 Study data (N=5,267).
- Investigated the mediating role of emotional states on the relationship between social interactions and daily tasks with cognitive abilities in AD; drafted a 5,000-word paper.
Researcher
CIS Research Project on Alzheimer's Disease
07.2023 - 10.2023
- Analyzed ADNI dataset (N=1,721) using mediation models (R) to assess MRI phenotypes (hippocampus/amygdala volume) as mediators between APOE4 and cognitive impairment.
- A 11-page (4000+ words) individual academic research paper was published in the journal ICMMGH 2024.
Assistant Researcher
Chinese Academy of Sciences
07.2022 - 08.2022
- Investigated the mechanisms of microglia abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease via Chemotaxis Cell Invasion experiments (9 experimental groups).
- Completed 3 weekly experiment progress reports, a 1000-word academic research poster, and a 15-minute presentation proposing further study on microglia over-activation.
Core Member
iGEM 2021 Team (GreatBay_SZ)
02.2021 - 11.2021
- Top 10 globally; Developed ARTAG (Artificial Revolutionary Art of Tracking Gadget), an accurate, rapid, durable, invisible, and cost-efficient spore detection system using the Barcoded Microbial System for anti-counterfeiting purposes.
- Engineered yeast spores for customized DNA-encoded barcode information; Used CRISPR Cas12a detection and ODE modeling to optimize the assay.
- Collected 800 survey responses on counterfeit goods and anti-counterfeiting needs and interviewed 3 artists and a gallery owner to understand the market demand.
Chair
Phycology and Neuroscience Club
08.2023 - 06.2024
- Expanded membership to 50+ students; organized 10+ lectures on brain science.
Chair
Residential Division of Student Council
08.2023 - 06.2024
- Led 40+ volunteers in organizing orientation events for 500+ new students.
- Designed and executed school's 20th anniversary carnival.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Molecular & Cellular Biology
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL12.2024
Skills
- Gene editing
- PCR / RPA techniques
- ELISA / CLIA
- CRISPR-based technologies
- Chemotaxis cell invasion experiments
- Immunohistochemistry
- Scientific writing
- R programming
- Java programming
- Neural network model training
- Microsoft office suite
Coursework
- Accelerated Chemistry I & II
- Accelerated Chem Lab I & II
- Elementary Organic Chemistry I
- Elementary Organic Chem Lab I
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biol
- Molec & Cellular Basis of Life
- Intro to Computer Science I
- Calculus I & II & III
- Biostatistics
- Writing and Research
Timeline
Junior R&D Engineer
Medleading Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
06.2025 - 08.2025
Researcher
Extended Project Qualification
08.2023 - 04.2024
Chair
Phycology and Neuroscience Club
08.2023 - 06.2024
Chair
Residential Division of Student Council
08.2023 - 06.2024
Researcher
CIS Research Project on Alzheimer's Disease
07.2023 - 10.2023
Assistant Researcher
Chinese Academy of Sciences
07.2022 - 08.2022
Core Member
iGEM 2021 Team (GreatBay_SZ)
02.2021 - 11.2021
Bachelor of Science - Molecular & Cellular Biology
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign