Lili Hong, Postdoctoral Scholar
Hong Lili was graduated from the Peking Union Medical College and majored in Pharmacognosy. During his doctoral studies, he focused on the hydroxylation and glycosylation of natural products. His work involved engineering natural enzymes to modify natural products in a green and efficient manner, yielding various bioactive derivatives. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and reading.
Xiang Zhao, Graduate Student
Before joining the Liu Lab, Xiang worked on a wide range of transition metal-catalyzed C−H bond activation reactions. He is currently using directed evolution methods to bring novel reactivities to the flavin-dependent enzymes. In his free time, Xiang enjoys running, swimming, and tasting delicious food.
Qingqing Zeng, Graduate Student
During her undergraduate studies, Qingqing primarily focused on the structural modification of natural products with the aim of discovering derivatives with enhanced biological activity. With the curiosity and interest of biocatalysis, she joined the Liu lab trying to develop novel and efficient transformations using engineered proteins. In her free time, Qingqing enjoys cycling, watching movies, and spending time with her cat.
Hong-Ning Yin, Graduate Student
B.E. in Chemistry, Qingdao University of Science and Technology
During her undergraduate studies, Hong-Ning specialized in the surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles. In Dr. Liu’s laboratory, she is enthusiastic about developing innovative and effective methods in the field of biocatalysis. In her spare time, Hong-Ning enjoys playing the guitar, sketching, and travelling.
Hometown: Tengzhou, Shandong (China)
Shuangyu Dai, Graduate Student
Sc. in Chemistry, Lanzhou University, 2018–2022
Ph.D. candidate in Biology, NIBS, 2022–Present
Shuangyu earned her undergraduate degree from Lanzhou University, focusing on flame-retardant polyurethanes to enhance their safety in consumer products. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at NIBS under the supervision of Dr. Liu, researching enzyme-catalyzed selective oxidation chemistry. Her work aims to develop efficient and sustainable synthetic methodologies. Outside of lab, Shuangyu enjoys painting and creative DIY projects.
Xinchen Yang, Graduate Student
B.E. in Pharmaceutical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology
During his undergraduate studies, Xinchen Yang focused on the field of nanomedicine delivery. He is excited to be a part of Prof. Liu’s lab, where he is exploring the potential of enzymatic catalysis. His research seeks to contribute to the development of more efficient and sustainable chemical processes. Outside of his research, Xinchen enjoys playing basketball and computer games.
Hometown: Hefei, Anhui (China)
Yunfei He, Graduate Student
Yunfei joined the group as a graduate student in August 2022. In 2023, Yunfei obtained his B.Sc. degree from Taishan College, Shandong University, under the guidance of Professor Liu Lei. Before joining the group, he was interested in asymmetric oxidation work.
Zihan Liu, Graduate Student
Zihan conducted her doctoral research on artificial enzymes, aiming to broaden the scope of biocatalysis. In her spare time, she has a wide range of interests and hobbies, including outdoor sports, football, science fiction movies, anime, computer games and so on.
Jinhao Yu, Technician
During his undergraduate studies, Jinhao focused on transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions. During his MSc, Jinhao focused on the synthesis, structural modification, and pharmacological activity of small molecule drugs. He is very interested in biocatalysis, so he joined the Liu lab to study and perform new-to-nature reactions catalyzed by engineered enzymes. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing sports and visiting museums.
Bo Zhang, Manager