Post Doctorate Research Associate
Post Doctorate Research Associate

Biography

Dr. Fangja Li is a post doctorate research associate in the Cell Signaling and Communications team in PNNL’s Environmental Molecular Sciences Division and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) user program. Li focuses on quantitative fluorescence microscopy and single cell analysis in the molecular level. Recently, he is using single molecule-based fluorescence imaging techniques, such as fluctuation localization imaging-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (fliFISH), using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy principles to understand cellular response to lanthanum chromium oxide nanoparticles at the molecular level and heterogeneous expression patterns of marker genes in pancreatic islet cells.  

During Li’s PhD, he worked on femtosecond laser measurement and four-wave maxing at the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, and at Tongji University. Afterward, he studied the mechanical system of cells using förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biological tension sensors with self-upgraded fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

 

Research Interest

  • Nonlinear Optics 
  • Femtosecond Laser 
  • Super-Resolution Microscopy 
  • Light-Sheet Microscopy 
  • Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy  
  • Confocal Microscopy 
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology 
  • Machine Learning 
  • Deep Learning 

Education

  • PhD in Optics, Tongji University 

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology 

Patents

  •  J. Liu, F. J. Li, and R. X. Li. “Method and apparatus for femtosecond laser pulse measurement based on transient-grating effect.” US Patent 9,488,525. 

Publications

2025

  • Jilani S.Z., E.M. Spanolios, R.E. Lewis, H.N. Muenter, A.M. Stitgen, G. Orr, and F. Li, et al. 2025. "Cyanine-incorporated amorphous polymeric carbon dots for optical reactive oxygen species sensing." Journal of Physical Chemistry C 129, no. 29:13289-13298. PNNL-SA-213343. doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c01748

2022

  • Yao X., Y. Wang, F. Li, J. Dalluge, G. Orr, R. Hernandez, and Q. Cui, et al. 2022. "Unconventional aliphatic fluorophores discovered as the luminescence origin in citric acid-urea carbon dots." Nanoscale 14, no. 26:9516-9525. PNNL-SA-177234. doi:10.1039/D2NR02361J

2021

  • Li F., D. Hu, C. Dieter, C.K. Ansong, L. Sussel, and G. Orr. 2021. "Single molecule-based fliFISH validates radial and heterogeneous gene expression patterns in pancreatic islet ß cells." Diabetes 70, no. 5:1117-1122. PNNL-SA-155510. doi:10.2337/db20-0802

2020 

Y. Fan, A. Jalali, A. Chen, X. Zhao, S. Z. Liu, M. Teli, Y. X. Guo,  F. J. Li, J. R. Li, A Siegel, L. X. Yang, J Liu, S. S. Na, M. Agarwal, A. G. Robling, A. Nakshatri, B. Y. Li, and Hiroki Yokota, Skeletal loading regulates breast cancer-associated osteolysis in a loading intensity-dependent fashion. Bone Res 8, 9 (2020). 

2019 

F. J. Li,  Andy Chen, S. Z. Liu, A. Reeser, Y. Wang, Y. Fan, X. Y. Zhao, Mr. R. Prakash, D. Kota, B. Y. Li, H. Yokota and J. Liu, “Vinculin Force Sensor Detects Tumor-Osteocyte Interactions. Sci Rep-Uk 9, (2019).