AKNOWLEDGMENTS
To become a scientist in the life science field has been my dream since I was 12 years old. I once forgot this dream, and had thought that it would never be possible. Without these people’s favors, I could never finish my dissertation, let alone the dream of the little girl.
I would like to first thank my mentor, Dr. Michael Lai, for his endless support during my Ph.D study. I thank him for training me for logical thoughts, for inspiring me great ideas as a virologist, and for guiding me the way to become a great scientist.
Thanks to Dr. James Ou, who has been just as my second mentor. His encouragement has walked me through the most difficult days in my Ph.D study.
Thanks to my closest colleague, Dr. Keigo Machida, who has been a great teacher in the laboratory. It was my great pleasure to work with such a brilliant scientist.
I appreciate Dr. Hideki Aizaki and Dr. Jessie Yi-ja Li, who motivated me to study viral replication and taught me all the basic techniques in a virology lab. I also thank to Dr. Keum S. Choi, who initiated the SYNCRIP project, and Dr. Grace Guann-yi Yu, who has always been a great senior person to me.
I especially appreciate Michelle MacVeigh and Ernesto Barron, two experts who also trained me well for confocal and electron microscopy studies.
Donna Sir and Wenling Chen, I thank them for their friendship and support.
I truly appreciate my Father, who first told me not to give up my dream and to be great. Thank him for encouraging me to study abroad.
My dearest husband, Peter Shih, I thank you for your eternal support, in every way you can. There is so much more than what I can express in words.
Thank you, my Lord, for giving me such a great chance to make my dream come true and for sending me my beloved family and friends.
