Guan completed her first degree in Biological Sciences (2006) at Shandong Normal University, Shandong, China. She obtained a master's degree in Biomedical Sciences (Infection & Immunity, 2007) and a PhD in Integrated Biology (2013) at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, followed by her first postdoc position at Glasgow (2013-2014).

Through training and research, Guan has developed particular insights into population genetics and high-throughput molecular biology (both wet- and dry-lab-oriented); in efforts to depict human disease mechanisms and to understand human health at the molecular and cellular levels. She currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow at Brighton. Her research focuses on generating new biological evidence and facilitating the implementation of interventions in the global and public health domain, including public health emergencies, by working at the interface between basic and applied science. 

Guan's overall research interests lie in understanding human biology and disease through a multidisciplinary approach integrating biology and computer science in biomedical data modeling and data mining. Specifically, Guan is interested in applying biology and data science to uncovering genetic variations and other functional or regulatory elements in predisposition to complex traits and diseases as well as genetic susceptibility to infectious disease and post-viral syndrome. Guan is also keen to incorporate other interdisciplinary approaches to collectively pursue new understanding and addressing challenges faced by health and medicine.

Guan welcomes students at all levels who are eager to learn and apply systems biology, by delving into the human system as a whole and adopting advanced bioinformatics, to solving unmet issues in health and medicine, and are motivated by forward-thinking science.