wei li
Chemistry & Chemical Biology, PhD
Scientist | Writer | Foodie
About Me
Hello there! I am a PhD Candidate in the Chemistry & Chemical Biology Program at Harvard University, where I study the beautiful world of the human gut microbiome. My skills and interests lie in microbiology, microbial genetics, protein expression, and analytical chemistry. Outside the lab, I spend all my free time writing. I write about science and science policies, share the latest science news, and also dabble in fiction. I've compiled all my scientific and writing works on this site, so feel free to check them out!
Publications
graduate work
Elucidating the mechanisms in which gut bacteria modify small molecules, and how these resulting bacterial metabolites can modulate host physiology.
A Bacterial Bile Acid Metabolite Modulates Treg Activity through the Nuclear Hormone Receptor NR4A1. Cell Host & Microbe. 2021.
A biosynthetic pathway for the selective sulfonation of steroidal metabolites by human gut bacteria Nat Microbiol. 2022.
A Gut-Restricted Lithocholic Acid Analog as an Inhibitor of Gut Bacterial Bile Salt Hydrolases. ACS Chem. Biol. 2021.
undergraduate work
Mechanisms in organic reactions; using computational methods to explain reactivity and stereoselectivity.
Toxic and Physiological Metal Uptake and Release by Human Serum Transferrin. Biophys. 2020.
Organocatalytic [6+4] Cycloadditions via Zwitterionic Intermediates: Chemo-, Regio-, and Stereoselectivities. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018.
Mechanisms and Origins of Selectivities of the Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Diels-Alder Reactions between Arylallenes and Acrylates. J. Org. Chem. 2017
Synthesis of 2-Ethenylcyclopropyl Aryl Ketones via Intramolecular SN2-like Displacement of an Ester. Org. Lett. 2016
SciComm Works
I am a writer and editor for Harvard's Science in the News. Here, I compiled all of the science communication works I have done for the website.
science articles
Biographies
short science blogs
2022
2021
2020
Stop Multitasking on Your Phone: Media Multitasking May Lead to Attention Lapses and Poor Memory
Severe vs Mild COVID-19 infections: differences in immune responses
Ketogenic Diets Alter Gut Microbiome and Potentially Reduce Inflammation
Computational models show why staying home really is the best idea
2019
Other Works
In addition to my science communication works, I also dabbled in science policy and other fun science initiatives such as science podcast.
Science policy articles
PodCast
Fiction