- Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, WashU Medicine
Lite Yang joined WashU in 2021 as a doctoral student in WashU Medicine’s Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS). Now in his fifth year, he conducts thesis research in the Pain Center in the Department of Anesthesiology with Dr. Robert Gereau and Dr. Vijay Samineni.
Yang’s work focuses on the somatosensory system, which is responsible for processing sensations like touch and pain. Using both animal models and human samples, he investigates the molecular profiles of nociceptors, the nerve cells important for detecting painful stimuli, and how dysfunction in these particular cells may cause abnormal pain.
“I spend about half my time performing experiments in the lab and the other half writing code and analyzing the gigabytes of data generated from each experiment,” Yang said. “While my projects are on the basic science side, my research may help us better understand the evolutionary convergence and divergence of the somatosensory system across species, and provide information for other scientists to prioritize and deprioritize targets for the development of novel pain therapeutics in their translational and preclinical research.”
Yang said WashU’s reputation and collaborative culture are what keep him here.
This environment allowed me to thrive by collaborating with people across departments while, at the same time, giving me the space and time for my learning and growth. I am constantly inspired by my brilliant colleagues and peers, and learning both in the classroom and at work.
Lite Yang, graduate research assistant
His colleagues echoed that admiration. Being an inspiration both in the labs and outside of work with how he handles his work, criticism and his approach to science.
“He maintains a level of humility that is hard to come by in such a talented and hard-working person,” said Hugo Greenhill, DBBS Graduate Research Assistant. “In every case, people highlight how humble, hard-working and kind Lite is while maintaining a level of rigor and intensity required for excellent science.”
Outside of research, Yang enjoys time with his partner and their four pets — a cat and three dogs. Yang says they provide him emotional support and bring him joy when he comes home.