Wusheng Liu

Dr. Wusheng Liu is an Associate Professor in Translational Genomics and Plant Bioengineering at the Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University. His laboratory focuses on three core research areas: 1) developing non-GMO CRISPR/Cas9 delivery systems for crop editing, 2) molecular mechanisms of agronomic traits (bacterial wilt resistance, seed size, lycopene content), and 3) crop trait engineering via genetic engineering and gene editing. The lab also explores computational tools for de novo motif discovery and synthetic promoter engineering.

Education:

• PhD in Botany, University of Tennessee
• MS in Botany, Northeast Forestry University
• BS in Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University

Teaching: Dr. Liu instructs HS/GN/CS 720 Molecular Biology in Plant Breeding during spring semesters.

Research Trends: Recent work emphasizes CRISPR applications in Brassica species (e.g., Bok choy, Chinese cabbage), soybean disease resistance via genomic approaches, and engineered bioconfinement strategies (e.g., cleistogamy in Camelina). Synthetic promoters and transcription factor networks are key tools in his lab's genetic engineering pipeline.

Lab Activities: Currently seeking postdoctoral researchers and graduate students. The lab prioritizes plant transformation optimization and translational bioengineering solutions for agricultural challenges.