Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)China
Li Zhe is an Associate Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering , Southern University of Science and Technology, since May 2024. He previously served as Assistant Professor at the same department from 2023 to 2024. His educational background includes a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University (2019) under Prof. Chengde Mao, and a B.S. in Materials Chemistry from Peking University (2014). Research Focus: Protein design, DNA nanotechnology, bionanomaterials, and self-assembly Awards: 2023 National Natural Science Fund for Excellent Young Scientists (Overseas) 2019 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad 2019 M.G. Mellon Award in Analytical Chemistry Publications: His 20+ works in high-impact journals like Science and Nature Materials emphasize computational protein design, DNA crystal engineering, and molecular actuation systems.
Wang Baojun is a Qiushi Chair Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Zhejiang University's School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. He serves as Director of the Institute of Synthetic Biology at Zhejiang University Hangzhou Science and Technology Innovation Center and Vice President of the Institute of Biological and Molecular Intelligence. His research focuses on synthetic biology, gene circuit design, biosensing, and biomanufacturing. He holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Zhejiang University and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Imperial College London, followed by a tenure-track career as a Professor at the University of Edinburgh. Education: B.S., Zhejiang University; Ph.D., Imperial College London Key Positions: Director of Synthetic Biology Institute, Vice President of Biological/Molecular Intelligence Institute Research interests include synthetic biology tools (e.g., inteins, CRISPR), modular gene design, biosensing for health/environmental applications, and bio-manufacturing using cell-free systems. He has published over 30 papers as a senior author, including 8 in Nature-indexed journals, and secured funding from major agencies like the NSFC, UK Research & Innovation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Awards: Royal Society of Chemistry Fellowship, UK Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship His lab actively recruits researchers and students in synthetic and computational biology. He has advised numerous graduate students and leads interdisciplinary collaborations in biotechnology innovation. Labs: Zhejiang University Synthetic Biological Systems Design Laboratory (Wang Lab), 浙江-英国合成生物学与生物传感国际联合实验室
East China University of Science and TechnologyChina
Itamar Willner is a distinguished Israeli chemist and Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who holds significant affiliations with the East China University of Science and Technology. He was appointed as an Honorary Professor in 2007, co-established the Ministry of Education's Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Structurally Controlled Molecular Engineering in 2017 as international director, and was appointed an "Internationally Renowned Master Visiting Professor" in 2022. He is a Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (elected 2021), member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (2002), European Academy of Sciences and Arts (2004), and German National Academy of Sciences (2009). Professor Willner's research spans supramolecular chemistry, nanomaterials, and biomaterials, with specific focus on DNA chemical biology and optoelectronic biosensing. His pioneering work includes the construction of bio/nanofunctional self-assembly systems such as DNA molecular machines and logic gates, development of bio-nanocatalytic methods, and the innovative concept of "nucleic acid aptamers" that enhances enzyme-mimicking catalysis. His recent development of "DNA dynamic networks" provides a powerful platform for studying non-equilibrium biomolecular assembly, while his work on artificial photosynthesis systems explores novel energy dissipation mechanisms. His extensive publication record includes over 850 SCI-indexed papers in journals like Nature and Science, with more than 89,000 citations and an H-index of 142. His research has led to significant applications in molecular-supramolecular electronics, intelligent responsive materials, controllable functional interfaces, and optoelectronic/bioelectronic assembly systems, driving innovations in photo/electrochemical probes, drug delivery systems, and molecular machines. His scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: Israel Prize in Chemistry Rothschild Prize EMET Award (awarded by the Prime Minister of Israel) Israel Chemical Society Gold Medal Professor Willner has served on the editorial boards of nearly 20 major academic journals including JACS, ACIE, Nano Letters, ACS Nano, Small, and ChemPhysChem. His collaborative work with Chinese scholars through the Ministry of Education's Joint Laboratory has established a significant hub for basic research, talent development, and international collaboration in precision chemistry and molecular engineering, bringing together top scientists from China and abroad.
