Wei Cui

Dr. Wei Cui is an Extension Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and serves as Director of the Animal Models Core Facility. Dr. Cui's research focuses on mammalian oocyte maturation and activation, preimplantation embryo development, and animal model generation using advanced genome editing techniques.

• Ph.D. from Shandong Agricultural University, China (2013)
• Postdoctoral training at University of Kansas Medical Center (2013-2014)
• Postdoctoral training at University of Massachusetts Amherst (2014-2017)

Dr. Cui's research explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying mammalian oocyte meiosis, activation, and aging, as well as the discovery of novel genes and signaling pathways required for embryo development. Current work also focuses on creating animal models of human genetic diseases using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

Research publications span several important areas including reproductive biology, developmental genetics, and biotechnological applications for embryo culture. Dr. Cui has published extensively on topics related to oocyte maturation, early embryo development, and techniques for improving animal model generation.

• Lalor Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2015

As Director of the Animal Models Core Facility, Dr. Cui oversees services for transgenic animals, gene targeting, and embryo micromanipulation. The facility supports researchers through cutting-edge technologies and customized services for animal model development.