Weikang received Sigma Xi Excellence in Research Award

The summary of Weikang’s achievements from the selection committee:

Dr. Weikang Ma is a Research Assistant Professor in the Illinois Tech Department of Biology and is a researcher in the BioCAT facility at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Ma’s research work has significant impact for understanding human muscle disease and developing real-world therapies stemming from an enhanced understanding of muscle function, particularly by X-ray diffraction analysis.  At the BioCAT he manages the only fiber diffraction experimental program in the western hemisphere, collaborating with more than 30 groups, worldwide. His groundbreaking work challenges traditional thinking about the mechanisms of muscle contraction. He has an outstanding publication record that reflects a very high regard for his work in the field.  He has secured an impressive level of external research funding as well as formed collaborations with many other highly-regarded groups. He is generally regarded as a leading expert in muscle X-ray fiber diffraction. Dr. Ma completed the B. Sc., degree in biotechnology from Dalian Medical University (China) (2011), and the Ph.D., in Biochemistry/Biophysics, Illinois Tech (USA) (May. 2016).