[email protected]
he/him/his
Visiting PhD student, NIH F99/K00 Fellow
Joint with the Li Lab
Education
- PhD Candidate, Molecular Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
- BS with Honors, Biology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Research Experience
Visiting Ph.D. Researcher, UCSF, 2024.9-Present
1. Identify Novel Rejuvenation Factors for Reversing Neuronal Aging
• Established a direct induced neuron (iN) system from fibroblasts, preserving aging
signatures to better model neurodegeneration disease characteristics.
• Conduct single-cell transcriptomic and functional characterization of iNs derived from
individuals of varying ages.
• Optimized dCas9 machinery delivery to mature neurons.
• Utilize CRISPRa/i coupled perturb-seq screening to discover rejuvenation factors
reversing neuronal aging signatures.
Ph.D. Researcher, Vanderbilt University, USA, 2020.03-Present
2. Investigating How the Epigenome Is Maintained via the Ubiquitination-Proteasome
Pathway
• Identified BRWD3, a chromatin reader linked to X-linked intellectual disability, as a
key regulator of H3K4 methylation dynamics in vivo and in vitro.
• Discovered KDM5 as the enzyme mediating BRWD3’s regulation of H3K4
methylation equilibrium.
• Elucidated the molecular mechanism by which BRWD3 facilitates KDM5 degradation
via K48-linked polyubiquitination in a proteasome-dependent manner, utilizing
biochemical assays and chromatin biology approaches.
3. Advanced Mapping of DNA Replication Dynamics During Development Using
Nanopore Technology
• Developed experimental protocols for nanopore sequencing platform to measure
DNA replication dynamics in Drosophila S2 cells.
• Established analytical algorithms to interpret replication dynamics from nanopore
sequencing.
• Investigating the impact of the epigenomic landscape on replication dynamics.
4. Investigation of BRWD3’s Function in DNA Replication
• Investigated the role of BRWD3 in DNA replication initiation and cell cycle
progression.
• Demonstrated that BRWD3 modulates replication helicase MCM loading onto
chromatin independently of ORC engagement.
• Utilized genomic sequencing techniques, including ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, and ATACseq,
to characterize BRWD3’s genomic functions.
Skills
• Genomic Sequencing: Spike-in ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, ATAC-seq, 10x scRNA-seq
• Bioinformatics: Linux, Python, R
• Biochemistry and Cell Biology: CRISPR-Cas9, CRISPRa/i, Mass Spectrometry (TMT labeling), Flow Cytometry, Confocal Microscopy, Cell Culture, qPCR, Western Blot, Cloning, Immunoprecipitation, etc.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong ability to collaborate in team projects
• Project Leadership: Proven ability to design, execute, and lead research independently
• Communication: Effective communication skills demonstrated through publications and successful grant applications
Honors and Awards
- 2024 Graduate Research Excellence Award in Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University
- 2023 Biomedical Research Education & Training (BRET) Traveling Grant Award, Vanderbilt University
- 2022, 2023 Graduate School Travel Grant Awards, Vanderbilt University
- 2015, 2017 The First Prize Scholarship, Sun Yat-sen University
- 2017 Excellent Undergraduate Thesis of SYSU, Sun Yat-sen University
- 2017 Bachelor's Degree with Honors, Sun Yat-sen University
- 2017 Outstanding Poster Award, 4th National Drosophila Research Conference in China
- 2014, 2016 National Endeavor Scholarship, China
Publications
- Han, Dongsheng, Samantha H. Schaffner, Jonathan P. Davies, Mary Lauren Benton, Lars Plate, and Jared T. Nordman. "BRWD3 promotes KDM5 degradation to maintain H3K4 methylation levels." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120, no. 39 (2023): e2305092120.
- Han, Dongsheng, Scott Churcher, and Jared T. Nordman. "PCR cloning Intermediated Gibson assembly (PIG) for Constructing DNA Repair Templates in CRISPR-Cas9 Based Gene Editing." microPublication Biology 2023 (2023).
- Munden, Alexander, Madison T. Wright, Dongsheng Han, Reyhaneh Tirgar, Lars Plate,and Jared T. Nordman. "Identification of replication fork-associated proteins in Drosophila embryos and cultured cells using iPOND coupled to quantitative mass spectrometry." Scientific Reports 12, no. 1 (2022): 1-11
- Li, Kaili K., Dongsheng Han, Fang Chen, Ruihao Li, Bing-Rui Zhou, Yawen Bai, Kai Yuan, and Yikang S. Rong. "Compensatory replacement of the BigH1 variant histone by canonical H1 supports normal embryonic development in Drosophila." bioRxiv (2019): 789735.
- Han, Dongsheng, Cole Shepherd, and Jared T. Nordman. “Comprehensive mapping of DNA replication dynamics in Drosophila reveals new regulatory mechanisms.” In preparation.