About me

Zong-Yan Liu —

I bridge computer science and plant genetics, deeply interested in how data science can advance our understanding of crop genomes and improve agricultural resilience.

Background

My Journey

I am a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate at Cornell University in the Buckler Lab with a passion for computational biology and genetics. My background bridges computer science and plant genetics, and I’m deeply interested in how data science can advance our understanding of crop genomes.

Currently, I am conducting research in maize genetics, focusing on genomic prediction and statistical modeling to improve crop resilience. I am working on projects that utilize advanced computational techniques to enhance genomic analysis in maize, aiming to contribute to sustainable agriculture and food security.

Download CV

ASPB Ambassador

Representing the global plant biology community by promoting scientific outreach and professional development.

Leadership

President of Synapsis and the Cornell Taiwanese Student Association, fostering community and organizing professional opportunities.

Education

Academic Background

Cornell University

Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics

Focuses on developing advanced computational models to accurately predict gene structures and protein abundance in plants, enhancing our understanding of plant genomics. Utilizes large language models to predict plant gene structures and extends to modeling protein abundance of highly expressed genes.

National Taiwan University

M.S. in Plant Biology

Analysis of IbHypSys-mediated MicroRNAs upon Wounding. Designed algorithms to identify plant microRNA target genes from sequencing data and cloned microRNA precursors into vectors to evaluate inhibitory effects on target gene expression.

National Chung Hsing University

B.S. in Agronomy

Double minor in Management Information Systems and Applied Economics. Gained expertise in data management, systems analysis, and economic modeling. Conducted controlled experiments on the osmoregulation of rice seedlings.

Tools & Tech

Technical Skills

The languages and tools I use to bridge the gap between computer science and biology.

Python

The core language underpinning my entire data science and machine learning workflow.

R Project

Statistical computing and graphing for comprehensive transcriptomic and genomic data analysis.

HPC & Linux

Bash scripting, Slurm orchestration, and high-performance GPU computing.

LLM & Foundation Models

Designing, fine-tuning, and evaluating massive genomic and proteomic sequence language models.

Let's Connect

Whether you want to discuss AI models, plant genetics, or potential collaborations, don't hesitate to reach out!

Contact Me