Work

Research

My research centers on microbial synthetic biology, an interdisciplinary field that harnesses custom-tailored gene circuits to program cellular functionality in microbes and their communities. My overarching goal is to advance and apply foundational design principles of gene circuit engineering for sustainability innovations. On the foundational front, I combine experimental studies with mathematical modeling to unravel the quantitative rules governing gene circuit behaviors in microbial strains and ecosystems. This includes exploring systems-level analysis of gene circuits and their hosts, orchestrating microbial metabolism with gene regulation, and the spatiotemporal organization of microbial communities. Addressing real-world challenges, my research harnesses the power of synthetic biology to tackle critical sustainability issues, such as plastic pollution, food insecurity, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Teaching

I teach a range of courses, from undergraduate to graduate levels, for which I was selected for the list of teachers ranked as excellent by their students at UIUC. In my lab, I lead a vibrant and diverse group, including postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and high school interns. Seeing many of these bright minds embark on independent academic careers or advance to institutions such as Harvard and MIT has been incredibly rewarding. Beyond the classroom, I am engaged in various outreach initiatives at UIUC. These include teaching at summer camps for high school students, mentoring undergraduates for jamborees, participating in the Engineering Open House, and contributing to art-in-science exhibitions, all aimed at reaching broader audiences.