After studying math and physics (B.S.) and bioinformatics (M.S.) at Tsinghua University, Zhirui Hu attended Harvard University to pursue a Ph.D. in statistics. After graduating from her studies, she entered the Pollard Lab at Gladstone Institutes and UC San Francisco as a bioinformatics fellow. She helped develop CellWalker2, a graph diffusion-based computational method for annotating and mapping data. Utilizing this tool, they were able to discover cell type-specific regulatory programs in complex tissues (blood and brain) and quantify both conserved and divergent cell type relationships across species.
Now an assistant professor at Oregon State, she mentors students in the classroom and continues to conduct research at the intersection of data science and health. She develops innovative statistical methodologies for analyzing complex biological data, including phylogenetic and single-cell omics, and deep learning approaches for measurement error models. Her research focuses on developing AI-driven models to unravel gene regulation across species and in disease contexts.
"My goal is to build interdisciplinary partnerships that push the boundaries of knowledge while mentoring the next generation of innovations," Hu said. "Together, we can transform ideas into meaningful impact for our communities and beyond."
She chose Oregon State because of its strong commitment to innovation, collaboration and impact-driven research.
"We are excited to welcome Zhirui Hu to the department!" said Department of Statistics Head Lan Xue. "By integrating advanced statistical theory with cutting-edge applications in genetics and multi-omics data, Hu enhances the department's capacity to address high-dimensional data challenges and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration in data-driven biological research."
Outside of work, Hu enjoys running and hiking along Oregon’s scenic trails.
