Biography

Dan Yang obtained her B.Sc. degree in chemistry from Fudan University in 1985. Through the U.S.-China Chemistry Graduate Program, she obtained an M.A. from Columbia in 1988 under the direction of Professor Ronald Breslow. She then joined Professor Daniel Kahne’s group at Princeton and got her Ph.D. in 1991. In the same year, she won a postdoctoral fellowship award from the Cancer Research Institute in New York to support her two-year research in Professor Stuart Schreiber’s group at Harvard. She started her independent career on organic chemistry and chemical biology at the University of Hong Kong in 1993 and was later promoted to a chair professor of chemistry and the Morningside Professor in Chemical Biology. In August 2021, Prof. Yang joined Westlake University as a chair professor in both School of Life Sciences and School of Science.

Research

Prof. Yang's research aims at using organic chemistry and chemical biology tools to unravel the mysteries of life and explore novel approaches to treatment of human diseases. Her current research interests include 1) fluorescent/chemiluminescent sensors for molecular detection and imaging of reactive oxygen species, lipids, metabolites, and enzymes in living cells to study redox biology and human diseases; 2) molecular probes for proteins and nucleic acids to investigate epigenetic changes in relation to their functions; 3) synthetic ion transporters and their biological applications in eradicating cancer stem cells and drug-resistant bacteria.

Prof. Yang received numerous awards for her research excellence, including Mr. and Mrs. Sun Chan Memorial Award in Organic Chemistry, Croucher Senior Research Fellowship Award, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation's Unrestricted Grant Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award by Junior Chamber International Hong Kong, Eli Lilly Scientific Excellence Award in China, Novartis Chemistry Lecturer , Eli Lilly lecturer in Organic Chemistry, TWAS Prize in Chemistry, Chinese Young Women in Science Fellowship, and Yoshida Prize by the International Organic Chemistry Foundation.

Prof. Yang currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief ofCurr. Opin. Chem. Biol., and she previously served as Associate Editor of Org. Lett. and Guest Editor forACS Chem. Biol.. 

Representative Publications 

1. C.-W. Ma, K. K.-H. Ng, H.-C. B. Yam, P.-L. Ho, R. Y.-T. Kao, D. Yang*. Rapid Broad Spectrum Detection of Carbapenemases with a Dual Fluorogenic-Colorimetric Probe. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2021, 143, 6886–6894.  

2. S.-Y. Dai, D. Yang*. A Visible and Near-Infrared Light Activatable Diazo-Coumarin Probe for Fluorogenic Protein Labeling in Living Cells. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2020, 142, 17156–17166. 

3. S. Ye, N. Hananya, O. Green, H.-S. Chen, A. Q. Zhao, J.-G. Shen, D. Shabat*, D. Yang*. A Highly Selective and Sensitive Chemiluminescent Probe for Real‐Time Monitoring of Hydrogen Peroxide in Cells and Animals. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2020, 59, 14326–14330.

4. F.-F. Shen, S.-Y. Dai, N.-K. Wong, S. Deng, A. S.-T. Wong, D. Yang*. Mediating K+/H+ Transport on Organelle Membranes to Selectively Eradicate Cancer Stem Cells by a Small Molecule. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2020, 142, 10769–10779.

5. S. Ye, J. J. Hu, Q. A. Zhao, D. Yang*. Fluorescent probes for in vitro and in vivo quantification of hydrogen peroxide. Chem. Sci.2020, 11, 11989–11997.

6. X.-Y. Bai, K. K.-H. Ng, J. J. Hu, S. Ye, D. Yang*. Small Molecule-based Fluorescent Sensors for Selective Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species in Biological Systems. Annu. Rev. Biochem.2019, 88, 605–633.

7. S. Ye, J. J. Hu, D. Yang*. Tandem Payne/Dakin Reaction: A New Strategy for Hydrogen Peroxide Detection and Molecular Imaging. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2018, 57, 10173–10177.

8. X.-Y. Bai, Y.-Y. Huang, M.-Y. Lu, D. Yang*. HKOH-1: A Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescent Probe for Detecting Endogenous Hydroxyl Radical in Living Cells. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2017, 56, 12873–12877.

9. J. J. Hu, N.-K. Wong, S. Ye, X.-M. Chen, M.-Y. Lu, A. Q. Zhao, Y.-H. Guo, A. C.-H. Ma, A. Y.-H. Leung, J.-G. Shen, D. Yang∗. Fluorescent Probe HKSOX-1 for Imaging and Detection of Endogenous Superoxide in Live Cells and In Vivo. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2015, 137, 6837–6843.

10. Q. Zhao, Y. Ding, Z.-S. Deng, O.-Y. Lee, P. Gao, P. Chen, R. J. Rose, H. Zhao, Z.-H. Zhang, X.-P. Tao, A. J. R. Heck, R.Y.C. Kao, D. Yang*. Identification of Natural Products Triptolide, Celastrol and Withaferin A as Binding Ligands of Peroxiredoxin I. Chem. Sci.2015, 6, 4124‒4130. 

Contact 

yangdan@westlake.edu.cn

Positions Opening

Multiple positions, such as PhD students, postdocs, research assistants, research assistant professors, research associate professors, and research professors, are available in the lab. We seek independent, creative, and motivated candidates with keen interest in chemical biology approach to molecular medicine. Expertise in synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, proteomics, neuroscience, live imaging, or related areas will be the most competitive. The internationally competitive salary and benefits (including social insurance, medical insurance, etc.) are provided.  Westlake University provides first-class research environment and infrastructure for personal career development.