YAQIANG WANG, PH.D.

(pronounced “Yah-chyahng Wong”)

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Yaqiang Wang is an assistant professor in the Departments of Biophysics and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He started his lab in 2025 to investigate the structural and functional roles of disease-associated noncoding RNAs using integrative biophysical approaches. His research focuses on RNA structure, recognition, RNA-protein/small molecule interactions, and the development of RNA-targeted therapeutics. Before joining MCW, Wang was Principal Scientist at Arrakis Therapeutics, where he led structural biology efforts to target pathogenic RNAs. He completed his postdoctoral training at University of California Los Angeles with Prof. Juli Feigon and earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Prof. Gary Pielak.

Position

  • 2025-present Assistant Professor of Biophysics and Ob/GYN at Medical College of Wisconsin
  • 2025-present member of MCW Cancer Center
  • 2021-2025 Principal Scientist of Structural Biology at Arrakis Therapeutics
  • 2018-2021 Research Scientist at University of California Los Angeles

Education

  • 2012-2018 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California Los Angeles
  • 2007-2012 Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • 2004-2007 M.S. Radiophysics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • 2000-2004 B.S. Chemistry, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Honors and Awards

  • 2022,2023,2024 HOOK Award, Arrakis Therapeutics
  • 2019 UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Postdoctoral Award
  • 2015 Jinshan Research Excellence Award
  • 2014 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
  • 2011 Albert R. Ledoux Summer Fellowship
  • 2010 UNC Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Graduate Mentor Award

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