Dr. Shuen-Shin Yang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy at Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science (CNU), Taiwan. She received her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmacy from Kaohsiung Medical University, where she specialized in Natural Product Chemistry. Prior to joining CNU, Dr. Yang gained postdoctoral research experience at National Cheng Kung University and worked as an R&D Specialist in the biotechnology industry, strengthening her translational perspective on natural product research.

Dr. Yang’s research focuses on natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, and medicinal botany, with particular emphasis on the discovery and validation of bioactive constituents from Formosan (Taiwanese) medicinal plants and their endophytic fungi. Her laboratory integrates bioassay-guided isolation, modern structure elucidation techniques (especially NMR), and mechanism-oriented biological evaluation to systematically investigate the chemical basis of traditional medicinal claims. Through this approach, promising ethnopharmacological knowledge is transformed into testable scientific hypotheses and, when supported by experimental evidence, into publishable research outcomes and potential translational applications.

As a licensed pharmacist with a strong foundation in both chemistry and biology, Dr. Yang is committed to bridging traditional herbal knowledge with modern scientific validation. Her work aims to establish clear chemical and biological evidence for natural products with therapeutic potential, contributing to rational drug discovery and functional natural product development.

Dr. Yang’s teaching and mentorship philosophy emphasizes evidence-based learning and the cultivation of an open, supportive, and innovative research environment. She actively encourages students to develop independent research skills and critical scientific thinking. The laboratory warmly welcomes international students and researchers who are interested in exploring the chemistry of nature and engaging in interdisciplinary natural products research.

Our laboratory is dedicated to the discovery and development of bioactive compounds from natural sources, including Taiwanese endemic medicinal plants and endophytic fungi. We combine rigorous chemical techniques—such as extraction, isolation, and structural elucidation using NMR and HPLC—with bioactivity screenings to identify potent bioactive agents.

We offer a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment that spans from basic chemical research to applied product development, such as cosmeceuticals and health supplements. Our lab is equipped to handle the full spectrum of natural product research, providing interns with hands-on experience in: 

• Isolation & Purification: Mastering chromatographic techniques to separate complex mixtures. 
• Structural Identification: Using spectroscopic methods (NMR, Mass, IR) to determine chemical structures. 
• Bioactivity Analysis: Evaluating compounds for potential medical or cosmetic applications.

Our core workflow spans plant/endophyte selection → extraction & fractionation → isolation & purification → structure elucidation (NMR-centric) → bioactivity and mechanism evaluation. We maintain close collaborations with industry and other academic institutions, ensuring our research has a real-world impact.