Yonghua Li-Beisson

Yonghua Li-Beisson is a Research Director and Team Leader at the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA) in France, specifically at the Aix-Marseille Institute of Biosciences and Biotechnologies (BIAM – UMR 7265) located at the Cité des Énergies in Cadarache. She leads the EBMP Team within the HELIOBIOTEC research unit, focusing on microalgal carbon and energy metabolism for environmental applications and renewable material production.

Her research interests span lipid and starch metabolism in microalgae and plants, photosynthesis and carbon metabolism, peroxisome function, and lipid droplet dynamics within the context of bioenergy and the circular carbon economy. Dr. Li-Beisson's work bridges fundamental biological understanding with practical applications for sustainable energy solutions. Her research demonstrates how microalgae convert light energy into chemical energy stored in lipids and starch, with particular attention to subcellular energetics and compartmentalization that govern CO₂ capture and carbon flux.

Analysis of her recent publication record shows a strong focus on carbon metabolism in microalgae, particularly in the model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Her research spans multiple aspects including lipid droplet formation and degradation, carbon partitioning under varying light and CO₂ conditions, regulatory mechanisms of lipid biosynthesis, and novel approaches to enhance oil production for biofuels. The interdisciplinary nature of her work combines molecular genetics, biochemistry, physiology, and biotechnology to address fundamental questions in algal biology with applications in renewable energy.

Dr. Li-Beisson has built a robust research program that connects basic science with industrial applications, particularly in the areas of biofuel production and carbon capture. Her work on fatty acid photodecarboxylase has opened new avenues for microbial production of hydrocarbons, while her research on lipid metabolism regulation offers strategies for enhancing oil accumulation in microalgae without compromising growth.