Yunrong Chai

Yunrong Chai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at Northeastern University. Her research focuses on microbial genomics and biofilm formation, particularly in Bacillus species. She leads the Yunrong Chai Lab, investigating mechanisms controlling biofilm development and their roles in bacteria-host interactions. Her work also targets inhibitory strategies against pathogenic biofilms.

Research interests include microbial genomics, biofilm formation dynamics, beneficial biofilm applications, and environmental adaptations of extremophiles. Key projects involve Bacillus subtilis and related species, often isolated from extreme environments like the Atacama Desert.

Publications span over two decades, addressing biofilm signaling (e.g., pulcherriminic acid), genetic regulation (e.g., Sda checkpoint protein), and environmental microbiology (e.g., desert isolates). Recent work explores novel antimicrobial strategies and genetic mechanisms.

No scientific awards are listed here. Advising and grants details are not specified in the provided text. The lab is located in the Mugar Life Sciences Building (134 MU), Boston.