Dr. Weili Miao, Stanford University, United States
Dr. Weili Miao is an accomplished molecular biologist with a focus on RNA biology, biomolecule interactions, and translational control. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside, and currently serves as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Her work has uncovered novel functions of biomolecule interactions in gene expression, with implications for tissue differentiation and disease. Dr. Miao’s high-impact publications in Cell, Nature Communications, and Nucleic Acids Research reflect her technical rigor and creativity. She is a recipient of the prestigious NIH K01 Award and has developed state-of-the-art techniques like irCLIP-RNP and PROBER. Her interdisciplinary research bridges chemistry, biology, and medicine, making significant strides in understanding gene regulation mechanisms. Dr. Miao is an emerging leader in her field and continues to inspire with her meticulous research and impactful discoveries.
Publication Profile:
Google Scholar
scopus
Strengths for the Award:
-
Outstanding Publication Record:
Dr. Miao is first or co-first author on multiple high-impact publications in top-tier journals such as Cell, Nature Communications, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, and Nucleic Acids Research. These reflect cutting-edge research on RNA-protein interactions and gene regulation.
-
Innovative Method Development:
She has contributed to the development and application of innovative molecular tools including easy-CLIP, irCLIP-RNP, PROBER, and MST—advancing the technical landscape for RNA/DNA-protein interaction studies.
-
Novel Biological Discoveries:
Her discoveries, particularly regarding glucose’s unexpected regulatory role in RNA-binding proteins such as DDX21, DDX50, and NSUN2, have significantly advanced our understanding of metabolic-epigenetic regulation in tissue differentiation.
-
Prestigious Funding:
Recipient of the NIH K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (2024–2029), highlighting her potential for becoming an independent research leader.
-
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration:
Extensive collaborations across structural biology, biochemistry, and systems biology with prominent labs at Stanford, showcasing her integrative approach and strong team science credentials.
Areas for Improvement:
-
Global Science Communication:
Greater involvement in public science engagement, outreach, or policy translation could expand the societal impact of her work.
-
Independent Research Leadership:
While she has secured the NIH K01 award, leading a research group or mentoring postdoctoral scholars would further elevate her academic stature.
-
Translational Impact:
Strengthening clinical or translational applications of her findings—particularly in cancer or metabolic disease—could increase her visibility in applied biomedical research.
Education:
Dr. Weili Miao completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of California, Riverside in May 2019, where she specialized in proteomics and biomolecular interactions. During her doctoral studies, she developed quantitative proteomic techniques to study kinase activity and m6A modifications, contributing significantly to our understanding of stress responses and cancer biology. Prior to her Ph.D., she earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the prestigious Fudan University, China, in June 2014. Her educational background blends a strong foundation in chemistry with advanced molecular biology, enabling her to approach scientific questions with precision and innovation. Her academic training has been instrumental in driving her postdoctoral research in RNA-protein interaction networks and biomolecule regulation. These formative experiences laid the groundwork for her high-impact contributions to biomedical science and continue to support her trajectory as an independent investigator.
Research Experience:
Since September 2019, Dr. Weili Miao has been a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University, where she explores how biomolecules such as glucose regulate RNA- and DNA-binding proteins. Her pioneering discoveries revealed that glucose binds DDX21, DDX50, and NSUN2, influencing mRNA splicing and epidermal differentiation. She has expertly incorporated advanced methodologies like irCLIP-RNP, easy-CLIP, PROBER, and MST, contributing to a deeper understanding of RNA biology and epigenetics. Prior to this, her Ph.D. work at UC Riverside involved proteome-wide characterization of kinase activity and m6A RNA modifications in stress and cancer contexts. Her work stands out for both technical innovation and biological relevance. Dr. Miao’s interdisciplinary background in proteomics, RNA biology, and structural biochemistry positions her at the forefront of biomedical discovery. She collaborates with leaders in the field and contributes to major scientific consortia, demonstrating a trajectory of excellence and leadership in research.
Awards and Honors:
Dr. Weili Miao has received numerous prestigious honors recognizing her scientific excellence and research promise. In 2024, she was awarded the NIH K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (2024–2029), affirming her potential as a future independent investigator. During her Ph.D. at UC Riverside, she earned the Dissertation Year Program Fellowship (2018–2019), recognizing her outstanding doctoral research. In 2019, she received the Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad, a highly competitive honor granted by the Chinese government to top-performing international scholars. These accolades reflect her consistent high-impact research and innovation in RNA biology, proteomics, and biomolecule interaction networks. Her ability to secure national-level funding and recognition at every stage of her career demonstrates a rare combination of technical expertise, leadership, and strategic research vision. Dr. Miao’s honors not only validate her achievements but also highlight her rising influence in the field of molecular and cellular biology.
Research Focus:
Dr. Weili Miao’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which small biomolecules regulate RNA-, DNA-, and protein-binding factors, with implications for gene expression, tissue development, and disease. At Stanford, she investigates how metabolites like glucose modulate RNA-binding proteins (e.g., DDX21, NSUN2), using integrative methods such as mass spectrometry, RNA-protein crosslinking, and structural analysis. Her work has uncovered how these interactions affect mRNA splicing, RNA stability, and translation—pivotal processes in differentiation and disease progression. Dr. Miao also advances novel tools for mapping protein interactions (e.g., PROBER, irCLIP-RNP), enabling more precise interrogation of functional biomolecular networks. Her long-term goal is to unravel the interplay between metabolism and gene regulation in health and disease. Through cutting-edge research, she bridges proteomics, RNA biology, and cell signaling, delivering insights that are both mechanistically profound and clinically relevant.
Publications Top Notes:
-
Regulation of RNA-binding proteins by small biomolecules, Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol., 2025, in press
-
DDX50 cooperates with STAU1 to effect stabilization of pro-differentiation RNAs, Cell Rep., 2025
-
Disease-Linked Regulatory DNA Variants and Homeostatic Transcription Factors in Epidermis, Nat. Commun., 2025
-
Glucose binds and activates NSUN2 to promote translation and epidermal differentiation, Nucleic Acids Res., 2024
-
Glucose dissociates DDX21 dimers to regulate mRNA splicing and tissue differentiation, Cell, 2023
-
Targeted Proteomic Approaches for AMP-binding Capacities of Kinases, J. Proteome Res., 2022
-
Roles of N6-Methyladenosine in Heat Shock Response, J. Proteome Res., 2021
-
Kinome Reprogramming During Radiation Resistance in Breast Cancer Cells, J. Proteome Res., 2021
-
SARS-CoV-2 Spike Variants Bind Human ACE2 with Increased Affinity, Lancet Infect. Dis., 2021
-
Kinome Reprogramming During Melanoma Metastasis, Sci. Rep., 2020
Conclusion:
Dr. Weili Miao is a highly accomplished early-career scientist whose contributions to RNA biology and biomolecule interaction networks are both profound and innovative. Her ability to integrate quantitative proteomics, molecular biology, and structural techniques positions her uniquely within the biomedical research landscape. With an exceptional record of first-author publications, advanced technical skills, and independent funding secured, Dr. Miao not only meets but exceeds the standards for the Best Researcher Award. While expanding her translational footprint and leadership responsibilities could further solidify her trajectory, she is unequivocally a top-tier candidate deserving of recognition.