Jiali Zhang

Jiali is a postgraduate researcher in the Huh Lab in the Department of Pathology at Yale University. Jiali grew up in China, where Jiali completed M.S. in Veterinary Medicine and obtained veterinary license. Jiali's academic background in veterinary medicine has shaped interest in disease mechanisms and biomedical research.

Jiali’s current research investigates how EGFR signaling regulates chief cell plasticity during the formation of spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM), a precancerous gastric lesion. In particular, Jiali studies the role of the Lrig family in controlling chief cell identity, paligenosis, and metaplastic transformation.

Beyond gastric biology, Jiali is broadly interested in disease mechanisms and translational therapeutic development, including stem cell-based therapy, organoid systems, extracellular vesicles, drug delivery, liver disease, metabolism, obesity, and cancer biology.

Outside the lab, Jiali is a passionate Latin dancer with 15 years of dance experience. Dance has been an important part of Jiali's life, shaping Jiali's discipline, confidence, and sense of expression. In addition to dancing, Jiali hits the gym every day and believes that building and maintaining muscle is one of the key ways to fight aging and stay strong, healthy, and resilient. If you cannot find Jiali in the lab, that means you can find Jiali in PWG. Jiali enjoys a wide range of activities, including dancing, resistance training, snorkeling, climbing, yoga, movies, games, music, and traveling the world. These interests keep Jiali energetic, creative, and open-minded, and they allow Jiali to explore life beyond science with curiosity and enthusiasm. Jiali believes that a good scientist should not only ask rigorous scientific questions, but also remain sensitive to life, people, and the broader human experience.