Sheng Mao

About Me

Driven by a fascination for how computational models can reveal and even engineer the rules of gene regulation in different cell types. I am currently an undergraduate research fellow at the Arc Institute, working at the interface of deep learning and regulatory genomics, advised by Dr. Jingtian Zhou. Previously, I have been fortunate to conduct research with Prof. Jian Yang and Prof. Jianyang Zeng @ Westlake University, and Prof. Ayshwarya Subramanian @ Cornell University.

Research Interests

• Regulatory Genomics:
  How DNA sequence and regulatory syntax encode cell-type–specific function.

• Single-Cell and Spatial Multi-Omics:
  Modeling gene regulation in its biological and spatial context.

• Machine Learning for Biology:
  Deep learning and generative modeling for sequence, chromatin, and cellular states.

• Human Genetics & Disease:
  Linking regulatory variation to complex traits and disease mechanisms.

• Synthetic Biology:
  Using predictive models to design regulatory elements and engineer cellular behavior.

News

• [Nov. 2025] SpaTranslator, a spatial multi-omics generative model, is released on bioRxiv.
• [Sep. 2025] Join the Arc Institute as an Undergraduate Research Fellow.
• [Aug. 2025] STARNet, a framework for spatial gene regulatory networks, is posted to bioRxiv.
• [Dec. 2024] Awarded the Westlake University Dean’s Award for research excellence.
• [Aug. 2024] Began a semester research exchange at Cornell University.

Publications

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