Chan is an expert in the area of intermetallic crystal growth with a focus on new quantum materials.

Chan moved to New York City at the age of eight and spent her childhood in North America.

She earned her doctoral degree under the supervision of Susan M. Kauzlarich at the University of California, Davis in 1998.

[5] Chan completed postdoctoral research in the ceramics division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

[4] Chan began her career as an assistant professor of chemistry at Louisiana State University in 2000.