Hi, I’m Dajia (Krisa) Ye. I grew up in Beijing, China, where I spent a lot of time exploring the small corners of nature in the city — chasing bugs, watching ants, and taking photos long before I knew what research really meant. That curiosity eventually led me to the U.S., where I studied biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

After finishing my degree, I spent time in Boston, working at Harvard and Boston University. I later moved to Philadelphia to start my PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, and now I’m a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Along the way, I’ve been lucky to be part of communities that taught me not just science, but how collaboration, mentorship, and curiosity shape a career.

Outside of research, I keep a mix of hobbies that keep me balanced. I love photography, especially documenting moments during fieldwork or catching everyday scenes that would otherwise go unnoticed. I’m a fan of movies and live concerts, and I try to make time for both whenever I can. I also have a fashion doll collection that I’ve been building for years, including Barbie, Poppy Parkers and many more. On a completely different note, I’m part of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), where I do armored combat — it’s a mix of exercise, craft, and a way to step into a different world for a while.

I also care deeply about outreach and community building. In grad school, I helped organize events to make our department more inclusive and welcoming, and I volunteered at the Beijing Zoo and the Philadelphia Zoo, talking with visitors about animal behavior and conservation.

For me, whether it’s science, photography, or armored combat, it’s all about exploration — learning new skills, meeting different people, and finding new ways to look at the world.