The College of Life Sciences hosted Dr. Runxuan Zhang from The James Hutton Institute for a captivating academic presentation on October 28th. This event aimed to further international academic exchange and foster outstanding students with a global vision and competitive edge.

Dr. Runxuan Zhang's lecture, Empowering Biological Discovery through Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, explored the cutting-edge integration of computation and life sciences. He provided a comprehensive overview of his team's research, starting with the challenges in accurate transcriptomics analysis. He highlighted two landmark innovations: RTDBox, a platform for constructing high-quality, species-specific transcript references, and the “3D RNA-seq”, an award-winning analytical tool enabling accurate, user-friendly differential expression and alternative splicing analysis. The presentation then transitioned to the application of AI-driven models in single-cell genomics, demonstrating their use in studying gene regulation in Arabidopsis.

The event fostered a valuable platform for direct student engagement with an international scholar. In the ensuing Q&A session, students participated actively, delving into detailed discussions with Dr. Zhang on his models and findings. Reflecting on the experience, students shared that this direct exchange had both equipped them with a structured understanding of a pioneering interdisciplinary field and fundamentally broadened their scientific outlook, thereby solidifying their research interests.