Na Ji facts for kids

Na Ji is an American scientist who studies living things using physics. She is a top professor at UC Berkeley. Her work helps us see inside living things using special microscopes. She also works at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Her Journey in Science

Na Ji was born in China. She earned her first science degree in chemical physics in 2000. This was at the University of Science & Technology of China. Later, she came to the United States. She got her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2005.

After her studies, she joined the Janelia Research Campus. This is a special science center. There, she worked as a researcher. In 2011, she started her own research team. Her team focused on creating new ways to use microscopes. These new methods helped them study the brain.

Exploring the Brain with Light

At Janelia Research Campus, Na Ji's team studied how brain cells talk to each other. They used amazing new microscope tools. These tools combined special light and adaptive optics. Adaptive optics helps correct blurry images. It makes them super clear.

In 2017, she became a professor at UC Berkeley. She teaches physics and biology there. Today, she is a full professor of Neurobiology. She also holds a special position called the Luis Alvarez Memorial Chair. Her research has greatly helped scientists. It allows them to understand the brain much better than before.

Her Family Life

Na Ji is married to Eric Betzig. He is a scientist who won a Nobel Prize. They have two children together. Their names are Max and Mia.