Xiangyu Ouyang, 26, was on a state-sponsored scholarship from Singapore when authorities say she began dosing the bottles with paraformaldehyde--a potentially deadly form of embalming fluid--starting last September . A cancer biology PhD student at Stanford University is facing four felony poisoning charges after confessing to putting a known carcinogen into classmates' water bottles over the course of weeks. Xiangyu Ouyang, 26, was on a state-sponsored scholarship from Singapore when authorities say she began dosing the bottles with paraformaldehyde - a potentially deadly form of embalming fluid - starting last September. Now, the recipient of Singapore's prestigious Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) scholarship has been dropped from the top university and could face as many as 8 years in prison. According to SFGate.com, Ouyang admitted to poisoning two students' bottles as well as her own. 'I am truly sorry for what happened, but I really didn't mean to harm people,' she allegedly told authorities. 'It was me crying out for help.' A former roommate of Ouyang's says both her parents were also researchers. Colleagues called her shy and insecure. One victim told authorities that Ouyang 'had never had a boyfriend, and envied those who had,' Vice reports. Despite her flaws, though, none of her classmates said they would have ever suspected the quiet Singaporean of trying to harm them. However, the students believed someone certainly was. 'I think someone is trying to kill me!' one student yelled after sipping from a poisoned water bottle. The alleged poisonings occurred from September through November, when Ouyang admitted to police she tampered with two bottles and her own. She was part of Stanford's Cancer Biology program but is no longer a student at the prestigious California university . One victim told police she 'immediately experienced a burning sensation in her mouth and throat. Her eyes became irritated and watery. She began salivating uncontrollably. Her throat was burning so bad that she could not even swallow the water.' Paraformaldehyde, a form of embalming fluid formaldehyde, can cause skin irritation, respiratory ailments and, in larger amounts, death. In addition to tissue preservation, the chemical is also used in pesticides. The alleged poisonings occurred from September through November, when Ouyang admitted to police she tampered with two bottles and her own. Poison: Paraformaldehyde, a form of embalming fluid formaldehyde, can cause skin irritation, respiratory ailments and, in larger amounts, death . She told authorities that she's recently seen a psychiatrist and experienced extreme insomnia and dizziness as a result of anti-depressants she was prescribed. Her father told Singapore's The Strait Times the family was not aware of her issues. 'If we had known earlier, we would have sent her for treatment,' he said. He said the girl's mother is now with her in California. She's no longer a student at Stanford. 'This was a sad, heartbreaking situation for everyone involved,' school spokesperson Lisa Lapin told SFGate. 'This was a confined, isolated circumstance and there was no threat to the broader campus community. The university has been providing support to the group impacted.' A spokesperson from Singapore's A*Star scholarship program told the Strait Times they are 'deeply concerned.' However, 'there will be no action on our part until after the proceedings have concluded.' Under California law, Ouyang faces between 2 to 5 years in prison if convicted--up to 8 years if the courts deem the poisons involved can cause 'great bodily harm or death' according to Yahoo News. Ouyang has been released on $50,000 bond. She's expected back in court in May. Read complaint against Ouyang below... Ouyang Felony Complaint -- FoHo by The Fountain Hopper .
Singaporean A*Star scholarship recipient Xiangyu Ouyang, 26, is accused of slipping paraformaldehyde to several fellow students.
Ouyang has confessed to poisoning two classmates, as well as herself, in what she's called a cry for help.
She is charged with four felony poisonings--which could carry 2 to 8 years--and was expected to use an insanity defense.
Ouyang won the prestigious scholarship in 2013 for her outstanding performance as an undergrad at Imperial College London.