Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille & Aix Marseille Université (UMR7288)
qiyan . mao [at] univ-amu.fr
Short Bio
I am a Chinese national. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree from Peking University, I went to the University of Chicago to study classic embryology with Dr. Robert Ho. I was fascinated by how the vertebrate limb skeleton self-organize to generate a complex shape. Wishing to find out how cells interact to drive morphogenesis, I joined Dr. Thomas Lecuit’s group at the IBDM as a postdoc fellow, where I uncovered how cell surface receptors encode mechanical interfaces between distinct fate groups. Now I am a postdoc researcher in Dr. Frank Schnorrer’s group at the IBDM in collaboration with Dr. Olivier Pourquié’s group at Harvard University. Using human iPSC-derived muscle progenitors, I take a synthetic approach to understand cell interactions during muscle morphogenesis in vitro. I dream of reconstructing the musculoskeletal system with the minimal sufficient cell interactions.
Education
2013 | Ph.D. in Developmental Biology, University of Chicago, United States |
2006 | B.S. in Biological Sciences (magna cum laude), Peking University, China |
Research Experience
2019.1-present | Postdoctoral researcher Aix Marseille Université & Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille Advisor: Frank Schnorrer, PhD Research subject: mechanical self-organisation in human iPSC-derived myofibers |
2008.5-2008.12 | 2nd Career Break for maternity leave |
2015.10-2016.2 | 1st Career Break for maternity leave |
2014.3-2018.4 | Postdoctoral fellow CNRS & Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille Advisor: Thomas Lecuit, PhD Research subject: cell surface signaling and cytoskeleton polarity |
2008.9 – 2013.8 | PhD Thesis Committee on Developmental Biology, University of Chicago Advisor: Robert K. Ho, PhD Thesis: Spatial Dynamics and Regulation of the Zebrafish Limb Morphogenetic Field. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2013) ISBN 9781303423185. |
Teaching Experience
2008 | Lecturer for undergrad level course Developmental Biology Practical Course, University of Chicago |
2007 | Teaching assistant for graduate level course Genetic Analysis of Model Organisms, University of Chicago |
Publications
Jules Lavalou*, Qiyan Mao*,†, Stefan Harmansa, Stephen Kerridge, Annemarie C. Lellouch, Jean-Marc Philippe, Stephane Audebert, Luc Camoin, Thomas Lecuit†.Formation of polarized contractile interfaces by self-organized Toll-8/Cirl GPCR asymmetry. bioRxiv 2020.03.16.993758; doi: 10.1101/2020.03.16.993758
* co-first author
† co-corresponding author
Qiyan Mao, Jules Lavalou and Thomas Lecuit.Fat2 and Lar Dance a Pas de Deux during Collective Cell Migration.Dev Cell. (2017), 40(5):425-426. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.02.025.
Qiyan Mao and Thomas Lecuit. Evo–Devo: Universal Toll Pass for the Extension Highway?Current Biology (2016), 26 (14): R680-R683. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.063
Qiyan Mao and Thomas Lecuit.Mechanochemical interplay drives polarization in cellular and developmental systems.Current Topics in Developmental Biology (2016) 116:633-57. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2015.11.039
Qiyan Mao, Haley K. Stinnett and Robert K. Ho.Asymmetric cell convergence-driven zebrafish fin bud initiation and pre-pattern requires Tbx5a control of a mesenchymal Fgf signal.Development (2015) 142: 4329-4339; doi: 10.1242/dev.124750
Qiyan Mao, Stephen L. Johnson, and Robert K. Ho.How to make a new appendage: Invasive dermal skeleton contributes to a novel fin in a zebrafish mutant.Developmental Biology (2009) 331(2):460. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.05.278
Hongzheng Dai, Ying Chen, Sidi Chen, Qiyan Mao, David Kennedy, Patrick Landback, Adam Eyre-Walker, Wei Du, and Manyuan Long. The evolution of courtship behaviors through the origination of a new gene in Drosophila
PNAS (2008) 105(21): 7478–7483. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0800693105.
Oral Presentations
- 2019 17th French Society for Myology Annual Meeting, Marseille, France
- 2012 12th International conference on limb development and regeneration, Montreal, Canada
- 2012 Midwest Society for Developmental Biology 50th conference, Cincinnati, USA
- 2012 EMBO workshop: Mesoscopic origins of cell behaviors during tissue morphogenesis, Corsica, France
Posters
- 2019 Society for Muscle Biology Annual Meeting, Costa Rica
- 2016 Shaping Life Meeting, Société Française de Biologie du Développement, France
- 2012 Jacque Monod Conference: evolution and emergence of developmental patterns, France
- 2012 Gordon Research Conference: Photosensory Receptors & Signal Transduction, USA
- 2011 Society for Developmental Biology 70th annual meeting, USA
- 2011 Gordon Research Conference: Cell Contact & Adhesion, USA
- 2010 9th International Conference on Zebrafish Development and Genetics, USA
- 2009 Society for Developmental Biology 68th annual meeting, USA
Honors and Awards
- 2019 Best Oral Presentation, 17th French Society for Myology Annual Meeting
- 2016 Best Poster, Shaping Life Meeting, Société Française de Biologie du Développement
- 2014 Best PhD Thesis in the general field of Developmental Biology, University of Chicago
- 2012 1st Place Oral Presentation, Midwest Society for Developmental Biology 50th conference
- 2012 Outstanding Student Talk, 12th International Conference on Limb Development and Regeneration
- 2012 Doolittle-Harrison Fellowship, University of Chicago
- 2011-2013 Chicago Biomedical Consortium Scholarship
- 2011 Woman’s Board Travel Award, University of Chicago
- 2011 Finalist, Best Student Poster Competition, Society for Developmental Biology 70th Conference
- 2006 Excellent Graduate Award, Peking University
- 2003-2006 Presidential Scholarship for Undergraduate Research, Peking University
- 2003-2006 Baosteel Education Foundation Scholarship