Meet Xifan Wang!

Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from, what degree(s) do you have? What are your interests?

My name is Xifan Wang, and I was born and raised in Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, the most northeastern part of China. I studied biology at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) in 2019 and obtained a bachelor of biological science in 2023. I joined the University of Utah molecular biology Ph.D. program in the same year. Besides science, I love sports like basketball, soccer, and tennis. I also love almost all types of music, especially rap.

Why did you choose the U for graduate school?

My initial interest in the University of Utah is because of several Pi I'm interested in following. After a detailed search, I was attracted by the diversity and energetic character of the MB program. There ~200 Pis conducting research in different areas, and the umbrella program allows me to join a lab from all departments. Through the interview, I felt The U really cares about students in all aspects and, the life-balance character of the program allows me to control my own time. Importantly, my undergrad Pi suggested I to join in The U.

Tell me about your lab. What do you study?

I joined Martin McMahon's lab at Huntsman Cancer Institute, department of oncological science. The lab conducts novel translation research on RAS signaling-driven cancer like lung, pancreatic, and melanoma. My research focus is cancer epigenetics and aims to understand the relationship between the RAS signaling pathway and epigenetic modification in melanoma.

Why did you choose to join your lab?

 I love all three labs I rotated, and the other two labs are indeed amazing. The reason I joined McMahon Lab is because of Martin. I successfully connected with Martin after my interview, and he is very welcome to answer my questions and schedule a meeting with me. During my rotation, he was very supportive to the project I proposed even if it was not quite the same as his research focus. Martin’s mentor style is also a fit for me, he provides me with large freedom in my project, but also has his requirements intended to help me achieve my goal. All lab members are very supportive as well, in general, I love all aspects of the lab.

What do you like the most about living in Salt Lake City?

Beautiful mountains and national parks do not need to be addressed. Salt Lake City   is a peaceful, safe, and less expensive state compared with huge cities. Meanwhile, Salt Lake City but have anything for needs like big shopping malls, museums, bars, etc.

What do you like the least?

I really miss my family, food, and friends in China. It's very emotionally difficult to separate from families for years.

What do you like most about being a graduate student?

I love all aspects of being a graduate student. I’m working on my most interesting area, conducting research for the project I’m most interested in, and in my favorite lab. The thing I like most is I can control my own time and work on the project I proposed, instead of taking a project less interesting to me.

What types of things do you do outside of class and lab?

Outside of lab and classes, I love watching games, reading books, and driving to see beautiful landscapes. 

What does a typical weekday look like for you?

I either conduct experiments in the lab or take classes on a normal weekday. I used to read papers to learn background knowledge as well.

What does a typical weekend look like for you?

I normally schedule two half-day experiments for weekends. After experiments, I will eat some delicious food while watching movies.

What advice would you give to someone applying and interviewing for graduate school?

I have three pieces of advice for someone who applying to grad school or interviewing. Firstly, please do a detailed search for graduate schools including but not limited to Pis you are interested in, alumni of the program, and the character of the city that university is located. Secondly, choosing a program/school based on Pi instead of fame. Lastly, please evaluate the character and atmosphere of the school/program in the interview process.