Zhiliang Fan

Dr. Zhiliang (Julia) Fan is a Professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of California, Davis, College of Engineering. Her research focuses on advancing technologies for producing fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. She leads an active research group dedicated to sustainable bioprocesses and mentors several graduate students.

Research Interests: Her primary research areas include metabolic engineering, biocatalyst development, fermentation process development and modeling, and the design and economic evaluation of biological and chemical processes. Current work emphasizes novel pathways for ethanol and isobutanol production from cellulosic biomass, leveraging engineered fungal and bacterial strains.

Publication Trends: Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on utilizing Neurospora crassa and Escherichia coli for bioconversion processes. Key themes include genetic engineering for enhanced sugar and acid production, enzyme characterization, and the development of integrated bioprocesses that bypass costly cellulase addition. Her work bridges fundamental molecular biology with applied industrial biotechnology.

Scientific Awards and Recognition: While no personal awards are listed, her student Martin Jeffers has received the Gates Millenium Fellowship, highlighting the excellence of her mentorship.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Fan actively mentors PhD and MS students, including Amanda Hildebrand, Jiajie Wang, Peter Russell, Vu Quach, and Martin Jeffers. Her research is supported by projects focused on converting cellulosic biomass and agricultural residues (like almond hulls) into value-added products such as biofuels, protein-rich feed supplements, and chemical intermediates.

Laboratory and Research Team: The Fan Research Group includes postdoctoral researchers Bakht Zada and Sumit Sharma, working on genetic engineering and biomass pretreatment, respectively. The lab pursues innovative strategies such as direct conversion of cellulose to sugar acids and solid-state fermentation for feed production, positioning it at the forefront of sustainable biotechnology.