(2eg) Protein Engineering for Microbial Interface Study

My research focusing on experimental study to understand and improve biotic-abiotic interfaces communications between microbial system and environment, with expanding biology tools to solve energy and environmental problems.

My postdoc research covers two distinct aspects:1) genetic engineering tools development for extremophiles metabolic engineering, focusing on Retron-based genomic engineering on Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, 2) microenvironment establishment with support lipid bilayer to understand biomolecular rules at microbial-electrode interfaces, focusing on ion-conductive layer formation with membrane redox protein. My research applied protein/genetic engineering, synthetic biology and electrochemistry. These efforts delivered the understanding of biomolecular functions both in cell and at the interface, created novel paradigm of cellular metabolic control in extremophiles. My doctoral research focused on surface-immobilized biomolecular characterization with multi-functional polypeptides, applied to energy, sensing and wastewater treatment. These efforts resulted in novel platforms development to understand surface-assembled biomolecule functions at interfaces.

With above research experience, I will be uniquely qualified to explore the benefits of combining synthetic biology with electrochemical technology. My research group will work on interdisciplinary projects intend to focus on (1) developing genetic circuit for engineering non-model host microbial systems, apply unconventional metabolic pathways addressing current metabolic engineering barriers, (2) developing biology tools to improve interactions between microbial systems and electrodes; (3) utilizing protein engineering create hybrid microbial membrane systems for cellular-microenvironmental communications study. My research will devote to provide the transformation perspective of laboratory bench work to industrialization.

Teaching Interests:

Teaching is a process that interact with students to explore knowledge together, based on individual difference to guide them build critical thinking and problem solving abilities, leading to their own interests. I have been mentoring more than 20 excellent undergraduate/graduate students during my research career yet. I also worked as teaching assistant for both junior and senior labs, and separation process lecture.

I obtained my B.S., master and Ph.D degrees in Chemical Engineering major, which prepared me to comfortably teach core courses in Chemical Engineering, such as transport phenomena, kinetics, and thermodynamics. As an interdisciplinary biochemical researcher, my own research journey built me strong backgrounds of molecular biology and electrochemistry. I would be excited to teach protein engineering, biochemistry, molecular biology, and electrochemistry as well.