Xinyi is a PhD student in Dr Dapeng Li’s laboratory at Westlake University, focusing on flavivirus pathogenesis and the development of broadly protective antibodies and vaccines. During her master’s studies, she researched the epidemiology of avian leukosis and identified avian leukosis virus receptors. In her third year, Xinyi received the National Natural Science Foundation of China grant for young scholars, recognising her contributions to basic research. Her work aims to map host factors involved in flavivirus pathogenesis and advance therapeutic development for viral diseases.