Mei-Jung Lin

Senior Research Associate
Zeng Lab, Department of Physiology

First UTSW job: Research Assistant II, Department of Cell Biology.

Best part about my job: Basic research is full of challenges, and the fact that there are so many unknowns out there to explore arouses my curiosity. It gives me such a sense of achievement to tackle these problems and find solutions that contribute to the advancement of human knowledge.

How co-workers describe me: Considerate, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and hardworking. They know I’ve accumulated a wealth of hands-on experiences, and they turn to me first when they need help.

Most unusual UTSW memory: Research jobs are very demanding, especially when grants are due. Once, I had to work overnight and slept on the lab’s couch until the next morning. I found out the postdocs in the neighboring lab were working late that night, too. This experience helped me appreciate researchers’ hard work, commitment, and contributions to the excellence of UTSW.

I’m really good at: Getting along with people, analysis, and research.

Hobbies: Reading, hiking, and spending time with my family.

Claim to fame: Alan Varley, Ph.D., my former supervisor in the Department of Internal Medicine, once called me the cloning queen of the lab.

Final note: I love working at UTSW and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I am so thankful for the support my spouse has provided throughout my research career, including the late nights and missed events. I owe my success to him.