Li, Weihan

Weihan Li

Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Overview

The Li Lab seeks a molecular understanding of how cells control gene expression in space and time. We use state-of-the-art single-molecule imaging techniques to study the precise localization of mRNAs and proteins, and to understand how their mislocalization leads to disease.

For instance, in yeast, approximately 20% of all mRNAs are targeted to the surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, where they are translated to support organelle biogenesis and homeostasis. Mislocalization of mRNAs disrupts these processes and contributes to cellular dysfunction and disease.

Using a combination of cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics, bioengineering, computational biology and mathematical modeling, we strive to reveal fundamental principles governing the spatial regulation of gene expression and its implications for health and disease.

To learn more, visit our Lab Website.

Brown Affiliations

Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Research Areas

Cell biology | gene expression | RNA | single-molecule imaging

On the Web

Li Lab Website

RNA Society Member Spotlight: Weihan Li

Publications Visualize it

Zhao, Yonghao, Zhu, Zhouyuan, Yang, Sen, Li, Weihan. "YeastSAM: A Deep Learning Model for Accurate Segmentation of Yeast Cells." Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2026.

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Glauninger, Hendrik, Bard, Jared A.M., Wong Hickernell, Caitlin J., Velez, Karen M., Airoldi, Edo M., Li, Weihan, Singer, Robert H., Paul, Sneha, Fei, Jingyi, Sosnick, Tobin R., Wallace, Edward W.J., Drummond, D. Allan. "Transcriptome-wide mRNP condensation precedes stress granule formation and excludes new mRNAs." Molecular Cell, vol. 85, no. 23, 2025, pp. 4393-4409.e11.

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Li, Weihan, Maekiniemi, Anna, Sato, Hanae, Osman, Christof, Singer, Robert H. "An improved imaging system that corrects MS2-induced RNA destabilization." Nature Methods, vol. 19, no. 12, 2022, pp. 1558-1562.

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Li, Weihan, Singer, Robert H. "Detecting the Non-conventional mRNA Splicing and Translational Activation of HAC1 in Budding Yeast." Methods in Molecular Biology, 2022, pp. 113-120.

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Desai, Ravi V., Chen, Xinyue, Martin, Benjamin, Chaturvedi, Sonali, Hwang, Dong Woo, Li, Weihan, Yu, Chen, Ding, Sheng, Thomson, Matt, Singer, Robert H., Coleman, Robert A., Hansen, Maike M. K., Weinberger, Leor S. "A DNA repair pathway can regulate transcriptional noise to promote cell fate transitions." Science, vol. 373, no. 6557, 2021.

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Le Thomas, Adrien, Ferri, Elena, Marsters, Scot, Harnoss, Jonathan M., Lawrence, David A., Zuazo-Gaztelu, Iratxe, Modrusan, Zora, Chan, Sara, Solon, Margaret, Chalouni, Cécile, Li, Weihan, Koeppen, Hartmut, Rudolph, Joachim, Wang, Weiru, Wu, Thomas D., Walter, Peter, Ashkenazi, Avi. "Decoding non-canonical mRNA decay by the endoplasmic-reticulum stress sensor IRE1α." Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, 2021.

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Biswas, Jeetayu, Li, Weihan, Singer, Robert H., Coleman, Robert A. "Imaging Organization of RNA Processing within the Nucleus." Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, vol. 13, no. 12, 2021, pp. a039453.

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Li, Weihan, Crotty, Kelly, Garrido Ruiz, Diego, Voorhies, Mark, Rivera, Carlos, Sil, Anita, Mullins, R Dyche, Jacobson, Matthew P, Peschek, Jirka, Walter, Peter. "Protomer alignment modulates specificity of RNA substrate recognition by Ire1." eLife, vol. 10, 2021.

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Li, Weihan, Okreglak, Voytek, Peschek, Jirka, Kimmig, Philipp, Zubradt, Meghan, Weissman, Jonathan S, Walter, Peter. "Engineering ER-stress dependent non-conventional mRNA splicing." eLife, vol. 7, 2018.

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Lu, Dan, Girard, Juliet R., Li, Weihan, Mizrak, Arda, Morgan, David O. "Quantitative framework for ordered degradation of APC/C substrates." BMC Biology, vol. 13, no. 1, 2015.

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Li, Weihan, Krishna, Sandeep, Pigolotti, Simone, Mitarai, Namiko, Jensen, Mogens H. "Switching between oscillations and homeostasis in competing negative and positive feedback motifs." Journal of Theoretical Biology, vol. 307, 2012, pp. 205-210.

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Li, Weihan, Zhou, Changsong. "Topological Determinants of Synchronizability of Oscillators on Large Complex Networks." The Open Bioinformatics Journal, vol. 5, no. 1, 2011, pp. 42-52.

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Research

Research Overview

The Li Lab develops single-molecule imaging technologies to dissect the spatial regulation of gene expression. Through a combination of cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics and mathematical modeling, we strive to reveal fundamental principles governing gene expression dynamics and their implications for health and disease.

Why Join Us?

Access to cutting-edge imaging technologies.
Personalized mentorship to support your career in academia or industry.
A welcoming and collaborative lab culture.
Hands-on training in advanced imaging to boost your career prospects.
Brown is located in a safe and affordable city with a high quality of life.

Research Statement

The Li Lab seeks a molecular understanding of how cells control the spatial organization of gene expression. We use advanced single-molecule imaging techniques to study the precise localization of mRNAs and proteins, and to understand how their mislocalization can lead to disease.

For instance, in yeast, approximately 20% of all the mRNAs are targeted to the surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, where they are translated to support organelle biogenesis and maintenance. In neurons, certain mRNAs are transported to synapses, where they play essential roles in synaptic activity and learning. Dysregulated mRNA localization in neurons is associated with neurological disorders, including fragile X syndrome (FXS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

We aim to uncover the mechanisms that regulate the spatial organization of gene expression and determine the consequences of its dysregulation.

Funded Research

K99/R00 NIH/NIGMS Pathway to Independence Award, "Spatial coordination of cytosolic and mitochondrial translation." 08/2023-07/2028

NIH COBRE Research Project Leader, "Optogenetic control of mRNA localization." 09/2025-07/2030

Brown Giuliani RNA Center Seed Grant (co-PIs: Weihan Li & Slavica Pavlovic Djuranovic) “Screening prion-like domains from Plasmodium falciparum.” 06/2026-05/2027

Background

Education and Training

Year	Degree	Institution
2018	PhD	University of California, San Francisco
2011	BSc	Hong Kong Baptist University

Postdoctoral/Other Training

Postdoctoral Fellow

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

2018-2025

Honors and Awards

K99/R00 NIH/NIGMS Pathway to Independence Award

Dennis Shields Research Award

American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship

UCSF Zaffaroni Family Fellowship

Researchers@Brown

Researchers@Brown

Weihan Li

Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Overview

Brown Affiliations

Research Areas

On the Web

Publications Visualize it

Research

Research Overview

Research Statement

Funded Research

Background

Education and Training

Postdoctoral/Other Training

Honors and Awards

Affiliations Visualize it

Affiliations

Appointments

Teaching