Ashley is a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Nutrition working with Dr. Shu-Bing Qian, studying mRNA translation regulation, nutrient-sensing pathways, and cellular stress responses. She received her B.Sc. (Hons) in Pharmacology and Biochemistry from the University of Strathclyde through a dual-degree program with China Pharmaceutical University, followed by a master’s degree in Cancer Biology from University College London. Her research interests center on understanding how dysregulated mRNA translation contributes to human disease. She plans to pursue postdoctoral training in this area, with the long-term goal of advancing biomedical research to improve human health.

Ashley conducts her doctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Shu-Bing Qian, investigating the molecular mechanisms of mRNA translation regulation, with a particular focus on ribosome dynamics, translational control, and cellular stress responses. Her research integrates molecular and biochemical approaches, including ribosome profiling, RNA-sequencing, and proteomics, to understand how non-canonical translation regulation contributes to cellular adaptation and human disease.

  • Ding C., Liu X.A., Zhang F., Uematsu S., Qian S.B., Xiang Y. (2026). Type II tRNA cleavage by SLFN14 endoribonuclease variants linked to inherited thrombocytopenia drives global translational repression. PLoS Biology.
  • Jia L., Mao Y., Uematsu S., Liu X.A., Dong L., França de Lima L.H., Qian S.B. (2026). Profiling of terminating ribosomes reveals translational control at stop codons. eLife.
M.S., University College London
B.S., University of Strathclyde + China Pharmaceutical University