Qinghong Jiang is a PhD candidate focuses on a set of repetitive elements known as retrotransposons, which make up a substantial proportion of the mammalian genome and significantly impact chromatin states through various mechanisms. Dysregulation of these elements is associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, although their exact regulatory roles remain unclear in many contexts. Her research has revealed the regulatory functions of retrotransposons in response to developmental and external cues. Specifically, she found that derepressed retrotransposons in G9a mutant mESCs may lock the pluripotency state by affecting chromatin architecture and the epigenetic landscape. Additionally, in oligodendrocyte precursor cells, retrotransposons act as cis-regulatory elements to coordinate the interferon response, which is linked to the pathology of multiple sclerosis.