Riyue Bao (Sunny) is a scientist who loves traveling around the world and baking at home. Most of the time, she dives into the ocean of data and numbers.

Growing up in China, the land of history, myths, and modern technologies, I had a lot of dreams. Creativity, imagination, and adventure are the elements of my life. I had dreamed myself to be a cartoon book writer, a novelist, a travel channel host, or - a scientist.

I became a scientist, but one that deals with millions of data and numbers - to battle the disease that co-existed with us throughout human history - cancer.

I obtained my B.S. degree at the University of Science and Technology of China. I then moved to the US to pursue my Ph.D. studies at Wayne State University and graduated in 2012. After graduation, I joined the University of Chicago as a Bioinformatics Scientist and picked up more responsibilities over the years as Manager of Bioinformatics and Associate Director of Cancer Immunology. In 2017, I was recruited as faculty at the Department of Pediatrics. In 2019, I moved to Pittsburgh and joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine as an Associate Professor. I serve as Co-Director of Bioinformatics at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

My primary research interest is to leverage large-scale data analytical and computational approaches to discover new treatments for patients with cancer. Here at UPitt and Hillman Cancer Center, I team up with brilliant undergraduate/graduate/medical students, residents, clinicians, and biologists to build AI-driven solutions to overcome immunotherapy resistance. For a list of my previous and current work, check “Science”.

In my spare time, I travel to places and talk to different people and different cultures. At home, I enjoy baking, comics, and oil painting. I love hiking in the woods, though if you were my friend, you might have to endure with me with my slow hiking speed :)