Lingyin Li

Principal Investigator
Arc Institute Core Investigator

Lingyin Li is an Associate Professor in the Biochemistry Department and the ChEM-H institute at Stanford. She received her Ph.D at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with Dr. Laura Kiessling and performed postdoctoral studies with Dr. Timothy Mitchison at Harvard Medical School. The Li Laboratory has pioneered the development of chemical tools to define and manipulate new modulators of the innate immune STING pathway. Dr. Li is the recipient of the NIH New Innovator Award in 2017, the Ono Pharma Foundation Breakthrough Science Initiative Award in 2017, and the 2022 Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry.

CURRENT MEMBERS

Gemini Skariah

Lab Manager

Before joining Li lab as lab manager/ LSRP, I was working at different Stanford labs since 2004. At Li lab I maintain all the mouse strains for different projects in the lab. Outside of the lab I enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Rebeca Trabachini

Executive Assistant

I help the lab with day-to-day administrative tasks, event planning, meetings schedule, ad-hoc projects, and more. In my free time, I love exercising, especially running and playing beach tennis during the summer and snowboarding during the winter. I also enjoy going on day trips with my friends to local spots.

Daniel Fernandez

Staff Scientist

Before joining Stanford I worked at EMBL Grenoble, France, on X-ray structural characterization of plant hormone receptors and their ligands. At Li Lab I supervise protein structural work, training students. Outside of the lab, I enjoy biking and reading books.

Chris Ritchie

Postdoctoral Researcher

I have a PhD in Biochemistry from Stanford. In lieu of a traditional bio, I commissioned members of my lab space to write a descriptive haiku for me:

In my PhD
I found cGAMP transporters
I enjoy biking.

Jackie Carozza

Senior Scientist

I trained in chemistry and biochemistry, completing my PhD at Stanford with Lingyin in 2021. Now, I work on identifying druggable proteins in innate immuno-oncology and developing molecules that target them. I really enjoy backpacking in the Sierra Nevada foothills and spending time with my family.

Rachel Mardjuki

Postdoctoral Researcher

Prior to Stanford, I worked in epigenetics and organic synthesis. At Arc, I work on understanding the regulation of extracellular cGAMP. Outside of lab I enjoy swimming and music.

Xujun Cao

Graduate Student (Chemistry)

I majored in Chemistry at the National University of Singapore, where I worked on the organic synthesis of carbohydrate probes and imprinted polymers. In my PhD, I use tools in biochemistry, computation and cell and structural biology to study molecular mechanisms of innate immune activation. Outside of the lab I enjoy board games and mind games, eating and running so I can keep eating.

Rebecca Chan

Graduate Student
(Chemical and Systems Biology)

Prior to Stanford, I completed my BS in Chemical Biology from UC Berkeley followed by two years of research in Judith Frydman’s lab studying chaperone-huntingtin interactions. At Arc, I work on understanding the cellular and biochemical factors that regulate STING activation. Outside of lab, I enjoy being active outdoors, trying new foods, and bingeing true crime shows.

Valentino Sudaryo

Graduate Student (Immunology)

Prior to Stanford, I did my undergrad at MIT, where I worked on a joint project between the labs of Harvey Lodish and Hidde Ploegh to engineer red blood cells and nanobodies for various therapeutic purposes. At Arc, I work on how extracellular cGAMP signals in T cells. Outside of lab I enjoy doing photography, watching basketball games and trying out different food.

Michelle Lee

Graduate Student (Chemistry)

I'm originally from Seoul, Korea. I did my undergrad at MIT, where I received a B.S. in chemistry. At Arc, I work on elucidating the role of cGAS-STING pathway in metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance, hoping to guide effective therapeutic strategies that can benefit patients. Outside of the lab, I spend a lot of time being active — I love practicing yoga and training for aerial arts. I also love live music; I am a classical pianist and love playing with other musicians!

Songnan Wang

MD-PhD Student (Biochemistry)

I studied Chemical Engineering at Johns Hopkins and spent two years doing stem cell research at USCF before starting medical school at Stanford. I’m currently pursuing a joint master degree where I study ENPP1's role as an innate immune checkpoint in cancer. In my free time I like to cook/eat good food with friends and families.

Sonny Young

Undergraduate Researcher

I am an undergraduate student from the Bay Area studying chemistry and computer science. I am currently focused on understanding the role of ENPP1 and cGAMP in cell metabolism and innate immunity. In my free time, I enjoy solving puzzles, playing music, and eating good food.

Dayanne Carvalho

Graduate Student (Chemistry)

Prior to Stanford, I received my B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where I worked in Prof. Laura Kiessling's lab studying structure-fuction relationships of mucins by designing mucin-mimetic polymers with antivirulence properties against cholera toxin. At Arc, I work on STING signaling and regulation in T cells. Outside of lab I enjoy going on road trips, hiking, and attempting to cook Brazilian dishes.

Gabriel Grenot

In vivo Technician

I have a BS focused in Pharmacy Technician from the Polytechnic Institute of Health. Today, I'm an In Vivo Technician in the Li Lab at Arc.

Alby Joseph

Graduate Student (Chemistry)

Prior to Stanford, I worked on biomaterials for drug delivery and chemical probes for studying bacterial glycans. At Arc, I work on mapping the regulation of the immunotransmitter cGAMP in the context of STING signaling. Outside of lab I enjoy playing tennis, squash, soccer, and mini golf

Yingjie Guo

Postdoctoral Researcher

I have completed my PhD in regenerative medicine from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Then I spent a short period as a postdoc at Harvard Medical School/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. My previous research aimed at targeting mitochondria as a therapeutic approach for various diseases. At Arc, I will further investigate the significance of mitochondria and the cGAS-STING pathway in diverse ailments. Outside of the lab, I enjoy road trips, singing, and eating great food.

LAB ALUMNI