Shukun Yang

About Shukun Yang

I’m a collaborative and driven PhD-level chemist with a strong foundation in biochemistry and hands-on industrial experience in the field of gene therapy. My expertise spans the design, synthesis, and analysis of gRNA, siRNA, LNP-cargos, peptides, and RNA/bioconjugates, with a deep focus on drug delivery systems and complex single-strand and duplex RNA conjugates.Throughout my career, I’ve worked cross-functionally with teams in research and production environments, contributing to both scientific innovation and operational efficiency. I take pride in being the positive force that keeps teams motivated, aligned, and productive. I also have a genuine passion for mentorship and scientific growth, often serving as a tutor and guide to other scientists in the lab.Always curious and growth-minded, I’m committed to advancing the field of nucleic acid-based therapeutics while building strong, supportive, and successful scientific teams.

Experience

1. Scientist, Oligonucleotide Chemistry

   Johnson & Johnson

   Mar 2025 — Present · San Diego, US

   Analytical Chemistry• Developed HPLC/UPLC methods and LC MS workflows for single stranded and duplex RNA under both native and denaturing conditions.• Supported analytical development for multiple nucleic acid modalities, including mRNA, guide RNA, and plasmid DNA.• Led internal mRNA analytics, including capping efficiency and poly(A) tail assessment.• Implemented analytical methods enabling characterization of multi cargo LNP formulations. Synthesis & Design• Led development of chemistry innovation tools to advance next generation siRNA platforms.• Performed large scale synthesis of fully modified siRNA drug candidates.• Conducted high throughput synthesis of siRNA libraries for rapid screening.• Contributed to design and optimization of oligonucleotide conjugates supporting targeted delivery and formulation improvements.• Designed novel lipid and monomer components supporting extra hepatic delivery strategies and collaborated with CROs on custom synthesis.🤝 Cross Functional Leadership• Partnered with formulation, analytical, and cell therapy groups to enable LNP research and multi cargo characterization.• Participated in CMC/GMP related leadership training and supported external manufacturing collaborations.• Coordinated efforts to enhance internal large scale siRNA and gRNA synthesis capabilities.• Reviewed 30+ peer reviewed scientific manuscripts across RNA and analytical science disciplines.

Education

• Florida Institute of Technology

  Bachelor's degree, Biochemistry

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Biochemistry

• Florida Institute of Technology

  Bachelor's degree, Molecular Biology