Yan earned her PhD in chemistry from Emory University, and to extend her career training, she also completed an MPH program in health management from Augusta University and an MS program in learning technology and instructional design from Georgia State University. 

Trained in basic science, Yan has conducted her research in biomedicine and public health. Moreover, she has rich experience in science teaching and learning and has taught at Georgia State University Perimeter College, Georgia Gwinnett College, and Emory University. Yan believes advising/mentoring is a critical component in learning, and in her past roles, she helped develop STEM advising and mentoring programs to promote trainees’ engagement and success. 

Yan has a strong interest in learning effectiveness and quality improvement practice, and she blogs related topics at https://effectivenessworklist.blogspot.com/. In her spare time, she enjoys nature and loves gardening and cooking.