Quiet Contributions, Powerful Impact: Muhua Liu’s Story

Muhua with her son, Jason.

Not everyone sees a connection between baking intricate cakes and neuroscience research—but for Muhua Liu, the two worlds aren’t so different.

Before ever stepping into a lab, Muhua spent hours in her home kitchen perfecting delicate cakes and pastries. Her friend, who works in the FOXG1 lab, saw something special in her—an eye for detail, steady hands, and a calm focus that never rushed the process. “She told me I’d be good at it,” Muhua recalls with a laugh. “She thought lab work was like baking. You need patience and skill.”

She was right. Much like baking, research requires precision, consistency, and the ability to follow every step of a protocol with care. Today, Muhua brings that same discipline to her role as a research technician at the FOXG1 Research Center, where she supports projects ranging from cell work to mouse brain immunostaining.

Whether it’s cryosectioning delicate brain tissue, maintaining healthy cell cultures, or ensuring accurate genotyping, Muhua’s quiet precision and steady presence help make critical research possible.

But her path into science didn’t begin in a classroom. In fact, she never expected to work in a lab at all.

A New Chapter, and a New Skill Set

Originally from Taishan, China, Muhua moved to the U.S. when her son was just three months old. Like many immigrants, she juggled raising a child while working night shifts—8 p.m. to 4 a.m.—adjusting to a new language and culture along the way.

For five years, she stepped away from formal work to care for her son full-time. But when a close friend, Liwen, invited her to try working in the lab, Muhua decided to give it a chance. That leap of faith turned out to be the start of something meaningful.

Today, Muhua works closely with Liwen, a member of our research faculty, and Lian, a postdoctoral researcher—supporting two distinct areas of research: mouse brain immunostaining and in vitro cell culture experiments. She’s known for her ability to adapt, stay balanced, and keep things running smoothly no matter the task.

The Beauty of a Perfect Slide

When asked which part of the job she enjoys most, Muhua’s face lights up. “Cryosectioning,” she says without hesitation. “I like choosing the part of the brain to section, making the slide—and then seeing the beautiful result at the end.”

What is Cryosectioning?

Cryosectioning is the process of slicing extremely thin sections of tissue—often brain tissue—using a specialized machine called a cryostat. These tissue sections are then mounted onto slides and used for imaging or staining, which allows scientists to visualize cellular structures and molecular activity. It’s a delicate process, and Muhua’s steady hands and eye for detail ensure each section is just right.

Supporting the Science that Matters

In any research lab, technicians like Muhua are the backbone of operations. While their names may not appear on published studies, their work ensures the science is sound. The accuracy of a slide, the reliability of cell data, the clarity of a Western blot—all of these behind-the-scenes elements are what allow discoveries to move forward.

Even without a formal degree in science, Muhua has taken on the challenge of learning complex lab techniques and making them her own. “I didn’t go to school here, and my English wasn’t very good,” she shared. “But I just kept trying.” Over time, her dedication paid off. Now, she not only supports complex research techniques but also helps train newer members of the team.

She works most closely with Liwen but emphasizes that the team as a whole collaborates well. “We don’t always work directly together,” she explains, “but we support each other.”

Science, Family, and Everyday Life

Outside the lab, Muhua finds joy in small, steady rituals: baking, cooking traditional Chinese food, and spending weekends shopping or swimming with her family. Her favorite role, she says, is being a mom.

While she keeps her work and home life separate, her curiosity has rubbed off on her son. “I encourage him to study biology,” she says with a smile. “He thinks it’s cool that I work in a lab.”

Building a Foundation for Discovery

Muhua may not have a formal degree in science, but she brings something just as essential: focus, care, and craftsmanship. She has learned lab techniques from the ground up—earning the trust of researchers and helping build the foundation that fuels discovery.

And while she’s quick to shift the spotlight to others, it’s clear that her role is anything but minor.

The FOXG1 Research Center is built on the work of many hands. And behind every slide, every culture, every breakthrough—there’s someone like Muhua, pouring precision and quiet strength into every detail.

Muhua in summer 2024.