Ying Hei received her BSc in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from HKUST, where she engaged in a diverse range of research projects covering evolution, epigenetics, immunology, and developmental biology. Motivated by her growing interest in epigenetics and developmental biology, she continued her postgraduate studies at HKUST and is currently pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Professor Danny Leung. Her doctoral research focuses on the role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in regulating cell state transitions during early embryonic development. By integrating epigenomic and transcriptomic approaches, Ying Hei aims to deepen our understanding of human embryogenesis and elucidate the functional impact of retrotransposons on the human genome.