Born in an inland province in south-western China and grown up in a riparian city of Yangtze River, I was always wondering where the river heading for; and dreaming how would that place look like. This childhood dream fulfilled when I began my college study in Qingdao, a beautiful seaside city where the Ocean University of China is. Four years undergraduate study not only equipped me with solid mathematical, physical background and computer programming skills but also the great interest in research, which stimulated me to learn more about the ocean. I continued my graduate at the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), State Oceanic Administration (SOA) and completed a Master's of Science in physical oceanography. However, the breadth and depth of my undergraduate and graduate study are too limited to meet the need of my future career. I came to the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers for my doctorate study.

For my research, I use satellite ocean color data to study the phytoplankton dynamics in the Middle Atlantic Bight. The middle and outer shelf region of MAB is associated with the fall-winter phytoplankton blooms, while the outer shelf-break/slope region is associated with the spring bloom. Initiation of both blooms appeared to be driven by the factors, which stabilize the water column and minimize the light limitation of the phytoplankton. So, the buoyant plumes, big winter storms and other physical factors related with stratification and de-stratification in the water column are the primary things I have to pay attention to. I am also interested in taking the advantage of computer models and observations as the tools to integrate the interdisciplinary research. I will focus my study on using the ROMs models and coupling bio-optic model to develop the generation plankton food web models. I will use this model to asses the processes driving the timing of de-stratification, its relationship to timing of fall bloom and then assess the overall impact on the biogeochemical cycles in MAB. Data from the Coastal Ocean Observation Lab (RUCOOL) will provide me a better understanding of how a numerical simulation can be an indispensable tool in ecosystem studies.

In my life, I enjoy a number of activities outside the science. I enjoy hiking, swimming and spending time with friends in shopping. I also enjoy spending a whole day to make a cake or a dish and share with my family and friends.