👋 I'm Siqi Pan.  My English name is Jerry.

I'm from Shanghai, China.

I am interested in math, chemistry, physics, biology, and especially neuroscience.

I am fluent in Mandarin, English, Spanish, French, and German.

I read/write Latin and Sanskrit, and know Quenya and Sindarin, Elvish languages.

I am also a big fan of reading, soccer, and rock music.

I am looking forward to meeting you.

My Email:  jerry.pan@duke.edu

My ORCiD:  https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6223-1347



SIC PARVIS MAGNA — Sir Francis Drake

Educational Experience  

Duke University   (Aug 2026 – Present)  

Major: Neuroscience, B.S. and Mathematics, B.S.

Shanghai World Foreign Language Academy   (Sept. 2023 – May 2026)  (All subjects: 7/7)

IB Mathematics HL, Biology HL, Chemistry HL, English A SL, Chinese A SL, Economics SL

Self-study for Advanced Placement (AP)   (May 2024 – May 2025)  (All subjects: 5/5)

AP Calculus BC, Statistics, Physics 1, Physics 2, Physics C: E&M, Physics C: Mechanics, Latin, Spanish Language & Culture


Research Experience  

A comparative analysis of gene and protein expression over the 28-day course of retinal regeneration in young and aged adult zebrafish   (May 2026 – Present)

Thummel Lab, Wayne State University; Direct supervisor: Ashley Kramer-Amobi, M.D./Ph.D.

Analyze 3’mRNA-seq data from young and aged zebrafish retina. Perform differential gene expression analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and clustering according to temporal patterns using edgeR, degPatterns, and other tools. Conduct cell type deconvolution on 3’mRNA-seq data to deduce cell type proportions.

A Structural and Functional Bioinformatics Study of QTY-designed Retinylidene Proteins   ( Jan. 2025 – Jul. 2025)

Independent research. Published in QRB Discovery by Cambridge University Press.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/qrd.2025.10009

I used the QTY code to design water-soluble versions of 9 human opsins and 3 microbial opsins. Using AlphaFold and molecular dynamics simulations, I verified that QTY-designed versions have similar structure and behavior to native ones. The designed versions have potential applications in mechanistic studies, drug discovery, and bioengineering.

Abnormity-Aware Model for Ocular Disease Diagnosis   ( Apr. 2024 – Aug. 2024)

Independent research. Wrote paper (https://tinyurl.com/3k8kya8p)

I leveraged deep learning to design a computer model that reads ophthalmological images, simulates doctors' process of diagnosis, and provides possible abnormities and diseases to patients and doctors. This system exposes more interpretable information compared to traditional models.


Work Experience  

Teaching Assistant, AI-Driven Bioscience Research Program   (Jul. 2026 – Present)

  • Assist the mentor, Shuguang Zhang, Ph.D., former MIT professor, in giving lectures and answering questions.

Communications Intern, The International Brain Bee (IBB)   (Jan. 2026 – Present)  View Official Site...

  • Attend the 2026 IBB NextGen event in Barcelona, Spain as correspondent.
  • Design exam questions in the competition-prep workgroup for the 2025 IBB World Championship.
  • Organize National Brain Bee interviews for different countries.

Facilitator and Professional Running Guide, beYoureyeS (NPO for the visually impaired)   (Sept. 2023 – Present)

  • Organize training sessions and promote accessibility ideas to 300+ potential guide runners in 90+ weekend events.

Summer Intern, UCSC Science Internship Program (SIP)   (Jun. 2025 – Aug. 2025)  View Certificate...

  • Gene Annotation with Comparative Annotation Toolkit. Mentor: Prajna Hebbar.


Additional Skills  

Languages

  • Mandarin, English (fluent)
  • Spanish, French, German (fluent, C1 Level)
  • Japanese (elementary)
  • Latin, Sanskrit (read & write)

Computer skills

  • Programming languages: Python, C++ and C#
  • Development tools: Git, Visual Studio, SQL server
  • Website development and database technology
  • Deep learning
  • Linux system and Bash script

Bioinformatics

  • Protein structure and dynamics: GROMACS, AlphaFold, PyMOL, ChimeraX
  • Genome assembly: Verkko, Hifiasm
  • Transcriptomics: differential gene expression analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, pattern clustering

Others

  • Mathematical modeling
  • Photography, film shooting and editing
  • Social media management


Awards and Honors  

Academic awards

International Brain Bee Championship -  2024; Top 3 out of 37 national champions  View Certificate...

National Brain Bee -  2024; Champion out of 2542 Contestants in China  View Certificate...

High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) -  2023; Outstanding; global Champion out of 967 teams  View Certificate...

High School

Principal's Award -  2025; Top award in high school .  View Certificate...

Five-Star Club (Neuroscience Club) -  2025; Top award for clubs .  View Certificate...

Five-Star Club (BonVista Accessibility Club) -  2025; Top award for clubs .  View Certificate...

Tetragonal Badge - Leadership Awards -  2025 Semester 1  View Certificate...

Tetragonal Badge - Scholarship Awards 1st Prize -  2025 Semester 1  View Certificate...

Tetragonal Badge - Scholarship Awards 1st Prize -  2024 Semester 2  View Certificate...

Tetragonal Badge - Scholarship Awards 1st Prize -  2024 Semester 2  View Certificate...



Extracurricular Activities  

Produce Original Neuroscience Course  (Apr. 2025 – Present)

  • Design, write, and produce an original neuroscience course, which covers the major aspects of neuroscience at undergraduate level.
  • The course contains 13 episodes in 23 videos, totaling 7 hours' length (https://tinyurl.com/yy78udb7).

Produce interview documentaries on people with visual impairments   (May. 2024 – May. 2026)

  • Promote accessibility awareness through interviews showing the lives of people with visual impairments and the status quo of accessibility.
  • The documentary contains 11 interview videos, totaling 5 hours' length (https://tinyurl.com/dyznn3pz).