Team

Wei Shen AIK

Group Leader

Wei Shen Aik is Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. He then received his doctoral training in chemical biology at Prof. Christopher Schofield's laboratory at the University of Oxford. After his D.Phil. studies at Oxford, Wei Shen did his postdoctoral research in Structural Biology with Professor Liang Tong at Columbia University in the United States. As group leader, Wei Shen aspires to combine structural biology and chemical biology to design new solutions for human health problems.

Simranjeet KAUR

PhD Student

I was brought up in Delhi where I did my undergraduate degree in Chemistry. I moved to New Zealand in 2018 to pursue my Research Masters from the University of Auckland. For my Master’s project, I worked on an enzyme ACC oxidase, understanding its conformational dynamics upon ligand binding. That is when I realized my inclination lies towards Structural Biology. My current project focuses on structure-based drug discovery of RNA modifying enzymes associated with cancer development. I’m interested in designing small-molecule inhibitors for these enzymes by studying the structural aspects of the enzymes.

Samson Nok Yin TAM

PhD Student

​

I was an undergraduate student at Hong Kong Baptist University, majoring in Chemistry. I like science because I truly think that scientific research can improve the quality of life of people in the future. My Final Year Project focuses on inhibition studies of cancer-associated RNA modifying enzymes. I did not have much experience in biochemical studies before I joined the Aik Lab. However, I like challenges and learning. By learning research skills in biochemistry, I hope to contribute to improving people’s health and lives.

Vivien Yingqi Lai

PhD Student

I was born and raised in Guangdong, China. I discovered my passion for chemistry when I was in high school, so I chose Chemistry as my major during my undergraduate study. For my final year project, I worked on structural-based discovery of inhibitors which targets the methyltransferase of Zika virus. After that, I decided to stay in the Aik group to my further postgraduate studies. I am continuing my work on synthesizing and testing small molecule inhibitors on different methyltransferases, and I hope the research on inhibitors can contribute to the discovery of effective treatments towards virus related diseases.

Yat Yin CHAU

MPhil Student

I graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, majoring in Biochemistry. I love biochemistry because it uncovers the secrets of life. In my Final Year Project, I worked on HBV core protein and a kinase SRPK2, investigating their protein-protein interaction by x-ray crystallography. My FYP experience cultivates my interest on protein research, especially in structural biology. Apart from studying proteins, I would also like to explore working with RNA. I intend to pursue postgraduate studies in the future and I hope the research experience here would prepare me for postgraduate work.

Kelly Yan Tung WONG

MPhil Student

I joined the Aik lab as a final year project (FYP) student and studied viral non-coding RNAs. I began as a novice during my undergraduate studies but working in the Aik Lab has provided me with an opportunity to learn and grow, and has also developed my laboratory skills. My postgraduate journey will entail other molecular biology techniques involving protein production and purification. I am excited to begin my postgraduate studies and I hope I can apply the skills and knowledge I have gained so far in helping people and animals.

Thomas Tong Lok LEE

Iris Lai Shan YIU