Development and application of synthetic biology tools to address society's most daunting challenges in human health and energy, and investigation of the fundamental aspects of enzyme catalysis, cell metabolism, and gene regulation

Research Interests

• Computational Biology and Genomics
• Synthetic Biology
• Systems Biology

Education

Awards

Guggenheim Fellowship, 2012
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2010
Keck Futures Intiative Grant, National Academies, 2010
Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, 2009
Plenary Lecture in Biochemical Engineering, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2009
Young Investigator Award, American Chemical Society Division of Biochemical Technology, 2008
Engineering Council Award for Excellence in Advising, College of Engineering, University of Illinois, UC, 2008
Outstanding Overseas Young Chinese Scholars Award, Chinese National Science Foundation, 2007
University Scholar, University of Illinois, UC, 2007
Helen Corley Petit Scholar, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois, UC, 2006-2007
Beckman Fellow, Center for Advanced Study, 2005-2006
Xerox Award for Faculty Research, College of Engineering, University of Illinois, UC, 2005
Young Investigator Award, Dupont, 2005
Excellence in Teaching Award, School of Chemical Sciences, University of Illinois, UC, 2004
CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 2004
Collins Scholar, Academy of Excellence in Engineering Education, 2001
Special Recognition Award, Dow Chemical Company, 1999, 2000