Xue Yan received her Ph.D. from the Brain Institute at the University of Queensland , where her work focused on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the repair of neurons (i.e. axons) using the C. elegans worm as a model animal. Xue Yan also holds a BSc from Nanyang Technological University in her native Singapore.

As a New Map of Life Fellow, Xue Yan will continue her work in the Shen Lab with a focus on understanding how neurons combat stress and uncovering the cellular pathways that are involved in this process. Xue Yan’s project will discover pathways that can be manipulated to prevent and restore neuronal health in neurological diseases.