Yuzhong Liu

Yuzhong Liu, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research. His research focuses on leveraging synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and synthetic chemistry to advance drug discovery and biofuel development. Key areas include the synthesis of natural and unnatural glycosides, optimization of microbial production platforms for high-value compounds, and the design of covalent organic frameworks for adaptive material applications.

He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His work bridges organic chemistry, microbiology, and materials science to address challenges in sustainable biomanufacturing and medicinal chemistry. Notable contributions include pioneering methods for glycoside diversification and developing engineered microbial systems for biofuel production.

Research interests span glycosylated natural products, metabolic pathway engineering, and the creation of novel organic frameworks. Recent efforts target improving polyketide production efficiency and enabling the biosynthesis of complex adjuvants like QS-21. His lab also explores the coordination chemistry of metal-organic frameworks for molecular analysis and energy storage applications.

Liu’s articles highlight advancements in microbial strain engineering, COF design, and sustainable chemical production. His work has been published in high-impact journals like Science, Cell, and JOULE, reflecting interdisciplinary innovations in both chemistry and biotechnology.