Since 2008 UNMC has hosted short-term research students from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). These students are in the final years of their PhD programs at UCAS, and most come to UNMC to do research that is related to their PhD projects.
This year UNMC is hosting two PhD students from UCAS, Hongyun Wang and Shuang Liang.
Hongyun’s research at UCAS is on cell biology, environment and health, and free-radical biology. At UNMC, Hongyun is working with Yunlong Huang, Ph.D., assistant professor in Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience. Her project at UNMC is on the protective role of ONC20 in the therapy of HIV infections. She said that studying at UNMC helps her know more about HIV, exosomes, and so on, and that she is gaining skills in important methods that can help her with her Ph.D. research in China.
Shuang studies the mechanisms of metal accumulation in rice and wheat. At UNMC, she is working with Tony Hollingsworth, Ph.D., professor in the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer & Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Her work there differs significantly from her PhD research. With Dr. Hollingsworth, she is working on one project on Notch1 signaling pathways affecting pancreatic carcinoma and another project on RNA in situ hybridization. She has learned two important things from her time with Dr. Hollingsworth. "The first is that it doesn’t matter if results are not consistent for each cell line – the results just show what their characters are. The second," she said "is how to think deeply about a new project and not just follow other people’s work."
In November, Hongyun and Shuang joined Mary McNamee’s family for Thanksgiving. "It was the first time for me to celebrate Thanksgiving, and I really appreciated Mary’s hospitality," Hongyun said. "I have met a lot of kind people in Omaha, and preparing and eating special food and enjoying each other’s company at Mary’s house was a highlight of my trip."
Hongyun and Shuang will return to UCAS in January and February.
When asked what they plan to take back to China with them, Shuang smiled. "The Quarters!" she said. "I plan to collect quarters with all fifty states on them to take them to my father as a gift. I think they are one of the most representative things from America that I’ve seen so far." At last count, she has collected 32 quarters from different states.
Faculty at UNMC who are interested in hosting a research student from China should contact the Asia Pacific Rim Development Program.