About Me

Introduction

My name is Yunyi Ru. I am a 2nd year master’s student in the Molecular Microbiology and Immunology department of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. I currently work as a graduate student researcher at The Pekosz Lab on respiratory syncytial virus.

Why Blogging

I made this blog to share things that I find useful and interesting regarding science, and hopefully you will also enjoy my contents.

Recent Highlights

I worked with my friend Juanyu to create an interactive dashboard which explores the relationship between environmental parameters and respiratory virus-associated hospitalization rates. Check it out!

Fun Facts About Me

Outside of lab, I enjoy digital painting, birding, and listening and playing music.

My name Yunyi writes as 云衣 in Chinese - it comes from a poem by Li Bai, a poet my mom loves:

云想衣裳花想容，春风拂槛露华浓。The clouds resemble her dress, and the flowers mirror her beauty. In the spring breeze brushing against the balcony, the dewdrops gleam richly. (English Translation provided by ChatGPT)

Résumé

Education

Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD

ScM in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology | August 2023 - May 2025

Duke Kunshan University/Duke University | Kunshan, China/Durham, NC

B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology (Dual Degree) | August 2019 - May 2023

Experience

Research

The Pekosz Lab, Johns Hopkins University | Graduate Student Researcher | October 2023 - Present

  • Isolated and characterized lab-adapted and circulating respiratory syncytial virus using various molecular biology and genetics methods.

The Lin Lab, Duke Kunshan University | Undergraduate Student Researcher | October 2021 - May 2023

  • Monitored and analyzed changes in antibiotic resistance gene prevalence in a local shallow lake over the year.

iGEM Competition 2022, Duke Kunshan University | Team Leader | December 2021 - October 2022

  • Designed an engineered bacteria strain by molecular cloning and protein expression.

Global Health Resource Center, Duke Kunshan University | Undergraduate Student Researcher | August 2020 - December 2020

  • Conducted surveys and interviews to assess the current situation of chronic disease management and control in 4 local communities.

Others

R3ISE Center, Johns Hopkins University | Research Assistant | October 2023 - October 2024

  • Initiated the ‘R3 Read Today’ project by selecting and presenting content on important topics related to responsible scientific practices for science communication on X and Instagram.

Academic Resource Center, Duke Kunshan University | Teaching Assistant | October 2021 - December 2021

HOB Biotech Group Suzhou Co., Ltd | R&D Intern | July 2021 - August 2021

Crystal Pharmatech Co., Ltd | R&D Intern | May 2020 - June 2020