I received my bachelor’s degree in molecular b from Jilin University (China) in 1995 and completed my Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 2004. Following a postdoctoral appointment at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, I joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2007, where I was promoted to full professor in 2017. My research program focuses on the design and synthesis of functionalized organic molecules for analytical and biomedical applications. A central theme of my work is the development of molecular sensing platforms for the spectroscopic detection and quantification of biologically important analytes at trace levels. Specific areas of interest include: (1) the construction of high-affinity molecular recognition switches with tunable sensitivity; (2) the design and photophysical characterization of novel fluorescent sensors and dyes; (3) the application of these platforms to probe small-molecule biomarkers; and (4) the integration of nanoparticle-based delivery systems to improve the stability and cellular permeability of fluorescent probes in biological contexts. To date, I have authored 34 peer-reviewed publications, which have collectively received over 1,300 citations. I have been an active member of the American Chemical Society since 2000 and was honored with the Pratt-Heins Faculty Award of Excellence in Scholarship and Research in 2023.