Cuining (Choo) Liu
About Me
Hello! I am a PhD Bioinformatics candidate at UCLA. I became interested in computational biology after a stint as a molecular biologist (e.g., 10X Genomics), followed by mathematical training (MS Biostatistics; University of Colorado at Anschutz data science consulting core).
These past lives have converged in my work in the Luo Lab (PI: Chongyuan Luo), where our group develops multiomic single-cell and spatial assays. My dissertation work extends machine learning and statistical genetics to these new tools, particularly focusing on how genetic variation and 5mC-methylation interact with aging, the developmental origins of disease, and neuropsychiatric phenotypes.
Trading hot takes & research discussion is my favorite part of being in academia. Please reach out if you’d like to collaborate or grab a coffee!
Recent Highlights
- Li, Langerman, Liu, Sun, et al. “Epigenomic heterogeneity and spatial organization during human reprogramming.” (in prep, 2026)
- Eyring & Liu, et al. “Single-cell profiling of DNA methylation in autism spectrum disorder prefrontal cortex reveals distinct regulatory and aging signatures.” Cell Genomics (2026) GEO
- Zhou, et al. (2026) “Distinct cellular DNA methylation mechanisms underlie common and rare genetic risk for brain disorders.” bioRxiv
Teaching
My pedagogy research interests include demystifying science communication and defining bioinformatics competencies in the AI/LLM era. I presently teach with the Division of Life Sciences and UCLA Undergraduate Research Center.
I also supervise computational projects for many talented undergraduate mentees and am designing experimental Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) to expand experiential learning opportunities for students interested in genetics and genomics.
(reviews & resource pack for prospective mentees: choo's research primer)
Other Interests
botany, synthesizers, field recording, rocky beaches (pictured below: Lands End, San Francisco), medieval animal illustrations, internet history/doomscrolling (also pictured below), film noir, and immediately misplacing all of my pencils and pens.
