Assistant System

Summary of Qualifications

• More than ** years of experience in molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology

• Extensive experience in bioinformatics

• Developed more than 600 new strains using genetic and chemical mutagenesis methods

• Developed “work horse” (expression host) for production of proteins

• Supervised a dozen of students

• With permanent residence permit (green card)

Education

Ph.D. / Molecular Biology, December 2003

Department of Biology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Master of Science / Microbiology, July 2000

State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Shandong, China

Bachelor of Science / Microbial Engineering, July 1997

Department of Microbiology, Shandong University, Shandong, China

Professional Activity

Editorial board member: Applied Environmental Microbiology (2009-present)

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (2009-present)

Ad hoc reviewer: Microbiology Ecology, Bioresource Technology, Chemosphere, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Journal of Applied Microbiology, Archive of Microbiology and International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, etc.

Memberships: ASM; Sigma Xi; IEEE senior member

Work Experience

Senior Research Associate, June 2011 – present

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University

• Establishment of an efficient protein secretion platform for xylanases in Flavobacterium.

• Molecular analysis of the secretion mechanisms of xylanase in Bacteroidetes.

• Engineering novel pathways for sugar utilization for Bacteroidetes.

• Metagenomics and transcriptomics of microbial community for tree-hole system.

Associate/Assistant Researcher, March 2007 – May 2011

Department of Soil Science (Environmental Microbiology), University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Discovery of a novel extracellular structure in Delftia sp. Cs1-4 (named nanopods).

• Molecular analysis of the nanopods’ components and their respective functions.

• Characterization of the phenanthrene degradation pathway(s) in gram-negative bacteria using “omics” techniques.

• Elucidation of the iron-storage mechanisms in model rhizobacterium Pseudomonas putida KT2440.

• Establishment of reporter systems for simultaneous analysis of multiple gene expression in bacteria.

• Genetic system development for environmental Burkholderia and Delftia strains.

• First development of strong expression system in Burkholderia and Delftia.

Research Associate, December 2003 – March 2007

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University

• Decoding the unique translational and transcriptional signals in ubiquitous Bacteriodetes.

• First establishment of a strong expression system in Flavobacterium.

• Development of genetic techniques for environmental Flavobacterium strains.

• Molecular ecology studies of bacterial and fungal communities in tree holes.

• Microbial mediation of mosquito production from aquatic habitats.

• Teaching graduate course MMG883and MMG 892.

Research Assistant, September 2000 - December 2003

Department of Biology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

• Conditional induction of laccase activity in liquid stationary culture and solid culture.

• Purification and characterization of a dominant laccase component from copper induced liquid medium.

• Molecular cloning of laccase gene family.

• Heterogonous expression of laccase genes in yeast.

• Molecular analysis of laccase gene regulation mechanisms.

• Laccase secretion and localization using the TEM, SEM, and confocal microscopes.

• Teaching undergraduate microbiology course.

Research Assistant, September 1997 – June 2000

State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Shandong, China

• Screening of high level of β-glycanases (focus on cellulase and xylanase) producers.

• Regulation studies of cellulase and xylanase.

• Purification of xylanases.

• Molecular genetics studies of xylanases.

• Studying on the enzymatic modification of wheat straw pulp.

Skills

Molecular Biology: Metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics; various PCR skills, qPCR, RACE, genome walking, vectorette system; transposon mutagenesis; gene interruption/knock-out; gene-tagging; construction and screening of all kinds of libraries on the high-throughput level; vector construction; gene reporter development; bacterial and yeast expression system; cycle sequencing; DNA and RNA manipulation; bioinformatics; Southern, Northern, Western blot and many other related techniques.

Microbiology: microbial ecology study including culture independent skills using 16s/18s rRNA sequence analysis (high-throughput), RFLP and FISH; screening of microorganisms; characterization and identification of microorganisms; fermenter manipulation; TEM, SEM and confocal microscopes.

Biochemistry: enzyme assays; protein purification using ion absorption, gel filtration, FPLC and HPLC; gel electrophoresis analysis including PAGE and IEF; protein characterization and sequencing; antibody preparation.

Software: SAS, R, ARB, Mega2, EstimateS, Mothur, s-Libshuff, Dnastar, GenePattern, CPrimer, CricketGraph, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Microcal Origin.

More than 25 publications (in refereed journals)

References On request

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