Jian Hu

Jian Hu is a Professor at Michigan State University (MSU) in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, with joint appointments in the Department of Chemistry and the BioMolecular Science Gateway. His research integrates structural biology, biochemistry, and biophysics to investigate macromolecular mechanisms in biology and biomedicine, focusing on bio-metal utilization and homeostasis.

• Ph.D., Peking University, 2004
• B.S., Beijing Medical University, 1999
• Associate Research Scientist, Yale University (2008–2013)
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Florida State University (2005–2007)

The Hu lab targets three major projects: (1) ZIP metal transporters, exploring alternating access mechanisms and substrate specificity; (2) Lar proteins, analyzing Ni-pincer cofactor biosynthesis and catalytic mechanisms; and (3) PIPK lipid kinases, studying membrane sensing and inhibitor development. Collaborations with Dr. Robert P. Hausinger and Dr. Xuefei Huang advance drug discovery and structural elucidation.

Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary work, blending plant biology (phenylalanine metabolism, peroxisome dynamics) with computational methods (watermarking algorithms, signal processing). His collaborations extend to engineering and medicine, emphasizing functional characterization of proteins and drug target validation.

• Scientific Awards: Invited State-of-the-Art Review, FEBS Journal 2021

Current courses include BMB 829: Special Problems in Macromolecular Analysis & Synthesis and CEM 999: Doctoral Dissertation Research. The lab employs X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, NMR, and biochemistry to resolve atomic-level structures and functions of critical macromolecules, including ZIP4 and PIP5Kγ.