He obtained his B.S. degree in physics from Peking University, P. R. China, and his M.S. degree in physics from the University of California, San Diego. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009. He completed postdoctoral training in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. He has published 20 papers in refereed journals including Science, Cell and Nature and conference proceedings. He has a U.S. patent. He has received a number of awards for his research contributions, including William H. Hildebrand Endowed Graduate Fellowship, Semiconductor Research Corporation Inventor Recognition Award.