Institute of Mental Health logoCurrently an Extern @Institute of Mental Health

Ph.D. candidate in Biochemistry at Cornell

Early-career researcher studying biochemical systems, building lab and data skills through graduate research and coursework.

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Work samples

A collection of coursework, lab techniques, and initial research activities from my graduate studies, showing practical skills and the experiments I have completed so far.

  • Healthcare Operations & Consulting Externship
    Healthcare Operations & Consulting Externship
    Institute of Mental Health logo

    Institute of Mental Health · ✅ Verified by Extern · ⏱️ In progress

    Healthcare Operations & Consulting Externship

    This externship explores how care coordination work in acute mental health settings can be designed, analyzed, and communicated as a customer-centric operational system. Externs study the case manager’s role at IMH to understand how workflows shape patient experience, surface hidden risks, and make invisible coordination work visible. Through structured analysis, process mapping, and dashboard prototyping, externs learn how operational clarity supports continuity of care, safety, and institutional decision-making.

    Stakeholder MappingSystems ThinkingProcess MappingChange Management

About me

Early-career researcher studying biochemical systems, building lab and data skills through graduate research and coursework.

I am Yanru Liu, a Ph.D. student in Biochemistry at Cornell University. I am early in my research career, exploring biochemical questions through coursework and laboratory training while developing skills in experimental design and data analysis.

Externships

Healthcare Operations & Consulting Externship

Institute of Mental Health

Experience

Doctoral Researcher

Cornell University, Hu Laboratory · Aug. 2021 - Present

Research Assistant

UCLA, Chanfreau Laboratory · Jan. 2019 - June 2021

Financial Director

Asia Development Forum · Jan. 2017 - June 2018

Founding Team Member

TapIn · Jan. 2023

Senior Program Associate

Peer China (NGO) · June 2017 - Aug. 2023

Education

Cornell University

Ph.D., Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology · Class of 2026

University of California, Los Angeles

B.S., Biochemistry; Minor in Philosophy · Class of 2020

Skills

Biochemistry conceptsExperimental designLaboratory techniquesData analysisScientific literature review
Back to work
Institute of Mental Health ↗

✅ Verified by Extern · ⏱️ In progress

Healthcare Operations & Consulting Externship

This externship explores how care coordination work in acute mental health settings can be designed, analyzed, and communicated as a customer-centric operational system. Externs study the case manager’s role at IMH to understand how workflows shape patient experience, surface hidden risks, and make invisible coordination work visible. Through structured analysis, process mapping, and dashboard prototyping, externs learn how operational clarity supports continuity of care, safety, and institutional decision-making.

Stakeholder MappingSystems ThinkingProcess MappingChange Management

Overview

The externship examined care coordination in acute mental health settings, using structured analysis, process mapping, and dashboard prototyping. The work mapped the case manager role and analyzed workflows that shape patient experience. Deliverables included process maps and a prototype dashboard reflecting coordination activities.

Healthcare Operations & Consulting Externship

What I've accomplished

I analyzed operational workflows, mapped handoffs and decision points, and produced artifacts that represent coordination work and risks in acute mental health care.

Project breakdown

View all work