Yaqiang Wang

Dr. Yaqiang Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biophysics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, with a joint appointment in Obstetrics & Gynecology. His research focuses on structural biology of RNA-protein complexes, particularly telomerase and related systems, using advanced techniques including cryo-electron microscopy and NMR spectroscopy. He is a member of the Cancer Center at MCW and actively collaborates on research projects related to RNA biology and drug discovery.

Dr. Wang received his B.S. from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China (2000-2004), followed by an M.S. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2004-2007). He completed his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2007-2012) and postdoctoral training at UCLA (2012-2018).

Dr. Wang's research spans structural biology of RNA-protein complexes with particular emphasis on telomerase structure and function. His work investigates RNA folding, G-quadruplexes, ribonucleoproteins, and the molecular mechanisms of transcription regulation. Using cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and NMR spectroscopy, his laboratory elucidates how RNA structures contribute to cellular processes and disease mechanisms. His expertise in macromolecular crowding effects on protein stability bridges biophysics with cellular environments.

Analysis of Dr. Wang's recent publications reveals a strong focus on telomerase structure across multiple species, with particular attention to the human and Tetrahymena systems. His work spans from fundamental RNA-protein interactions to translational applications in drug discovery. The consistent use of complementary structural techniques (cryo-EM and NMR) demonstrates a comprehensive approach to understanding macromolecular complexes at multiple scales.

Dr. Wang is an active member of the scientific community:

• Member, RNA Society (since 2018)
• Member, American Crystallographic Association (since 2025)

Dr. Wang collaborates extensively with Dr. Juli Feigon's laboratory, contributing structural insights to multiple high-impact publications in Nature, Cell, and PNAS. His research on telomerase structure has contributed significantly to understanding telomere maintenance mechanisms, with implications for cancer and aging research. He has presented his work at international conferences, including the ISOTOPE DAYS workshop on RNA-targeted drug discovery.

Dr. Wang's laboratory is part of the Cancer Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where his structural biology expertise contributes to understanding molecular mechanisms relevant to cancer biology. His work bridges basic science with potential therapeutic applications, particularly in the area of RNA-targeted drug discovery.