Jing-Ke Weng

Jing-Ke Weng is a Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Northeastern University and inaugural Director of the Institute for Plant-Human Interface (IPHI). He holds dual appointments in the College of Engineering's Bioengineering program and the College of Science. Previously, he served as an Assistant and Associate Professor of Biology at MIT (2013-2023) and was a Pioneer Postdoctoral Fellow at the Salk Institute and HHMI (2009-2013). His research focuses on plant specialized metabolism, encompassing enzyme evolution, metabolic pathway engineering, and the chemical interactions between plants and humans. Key areas include developing bioengineered solutions for drug discovery, sustainable chemical production, and understanding plant-microbe communication.

Education: BS in Biotechnology from Zhejiang University, PhD in Biochemistry from Purdue University.

Research highlights include studies on plant-derived compounds for allergy treatments (e.g., peanut proteins), bitter taste receptor evolution in amphibians, and the bioengineering of natural products like salidroside. His lab employs advanced techniques such as X-ray crystallography and AI-driven omics analysis. Current projects explore the evolutionary origins of plant metabolites and their applications in biotechnology and medicine.

Awards and recognition include his position as a Pioneer Postdoctoral Fellow, though no specific named awards are listed in the provided text. His work bridges fundamental plant biology with translational applications, addressing challenges in agriculture, health, and environmental sustainability.