Hsin-Yun (Rachel) is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Biomedical and Biological Science (BBS) Program concentrating on Genomics. She works in Dr. Siu Sylvia Lee‘s laboratory in the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, where she applies functional genomic approaches to study aging biology.

Rachel is passionate about mentoring, improving DEI in the higher education and research workforce, and advocating for women in science. She was a co-chair of the 2021 Cornell BBS Symposium committee, where she took the lead by hosting the discussion with the Keynote Speaker focusing on gender inequity and obstacles for women in science. She also served as an organizing committee for 2022 ComSciCon-NY, which is a state-wide conference to facilitate the mission of promoting the accessibility of science to everyone. She is currently a peer mentor in the BBS Ph.D. peer mentor program. She believes compassion is the most powerful characteristic to be a good mentor who can be both a good listener and storyteller. She is keen to serve as a GSMU mentor to facilitate her mission to inspire the younger generation and promote the accessibility of higher education to everyone.

In her free time, she enjoys being in nature, learning new sports (such as sailing and windsurfing), exploring human paths in antique stores, and writing poetry.