Linda Hsieh-Wilson

Linda Hsieh-Wilson serves as the Milton and Rosalind Chang Professor of Chemistry and Merkin Institute Professor at the California Institute of Technology, leading the Hsieh-Wilson Lab within the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Her research program integrates chemical synthesis, biochemical assays, and in vivo studies to investigate glycan molecular functions and structure-activity relationships across physiological and pathological contexts.

Her work centers on glycobiology with emphasis on glycosaminoglycan sulfation patterns, O-GlcNAc post-translational modifications, and neurobiological applications. Key discoveries include elucidating how specific heparan sulfate sequences regulate synaptic plasticity and social memory, and developing chemical tools to decode glycan roles in cancer biomarker detection and vascular development. This research bridges chemical biology and neuroscience through innovative methodological approaches.

Recent publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory in developing chemoenzymatic labeling techniques, systems-level analysis of glycan networks, and structural characterization of sulfation codes. These efforts focus on translating fundamental glycan science into applications for neurological disorders and cancer diagnostics, with particular emphasis on heparan sulfate and O-GlcNAcylation pathways.

Her major scientific recognition includes:

• Election to the National Academy of Sciences (2022)

Professor Hsieh-Wilson maintains an active mentorship program with 16 documented graduate students including current PhD candidates Sophia Gonzalez, Andrew Schilling, and Stefan Hansel, alongside recent graduates like Gracie Zhang. Her lab recruits new members annually and supports undergraduate researchers such as John Stauffer SURF fellow Ardra Charath, fostering interdisciplinary training in chemical neurobiology.

The Hsieh-Wilson Lab operates from the Norman W. Church Laboratory for Chemical Biology at Caltech, comprising graduate students, postdocs including Ankita Paul and Rajat Singh, and undergraduate researchers. The team collaborates across chemical synthesis, neurobiological assays, and translational biomarker development, maintaining strong industry and clinical partnerships for disease-focused glycan research.