University of Missouri-Columbia · PhysicsChen Lab
Shi-Jie Chen · Columbia, Missouri
Research Focus
Dr. Shi-Jie Chen's laboratory focuses on developing new computational methods to model RNA structures, which is critical for advances in medicine such as vaccines and gene editing. The lab combines machine learning with biophysical techniques to tackle complex challenges in understanding how RNA functions and can be designed for therapeutic purposes. By analyzing vast amounts of RNA data, the lab aims to create tools that enhance the design of RNA-targeted therapies.
RNA modelingmachine learningbiophysical methodsmRNA vaccinesCRISPR therapydrug designbiochemical techniquescomputational biologyRNA foldingstructural biology
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop new computational tools for RNA modeling.
AIM 02Integrate machine learning with biophysical methods.
AIM 03Predict RNA conformational distributions and kinetics.
AIM 04Design mRNA vaccines and antiviral drugs.
AIM 05Enhance understanding of RNA-small molecule interactions.
Skills the Lab Values
computational modelingRNA sequencingbiophysical analysismachine learning algorithmsdata visualizationthermodynamicsstructural probingprogramming in Pythonstatistical analysisexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications307top 32% of dept.7th of 22
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.9ktop 45% of dept.10th of 22
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.