About me
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, working at the ABPDU. My work focuses on the valorization of complex, underutilized carbon resources. These range from natural polymers in plant biomass residues to synthetic polymers in waste textiles. The goal is to convert them into bioavailable intermediates for value-added fuels, chemicals, and materials.
My experience covers the full chain: feedstock characterization, mechanical preprocessing (ball milling, pelleting), deconstruction with advanced solvent systems, and catalysis (alcoholysis, catalyst synthesis). I am interested in linking feedstock logistics with biorefinery conversion, and in combining bioprocess engineering with system analysis.
Before Berkeley Lab, I worked with Prof. Shang-Tian Yang at The Ohio State University on bioprocesses and bioreactor systems for lignocellulosic butanol. I earned my Ph.D. at Purdue University in the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering (LORRE), advised by Prof. Nathan Mosier and Prof. Michael Ladisch, where I studied how pelleting affects the processing and conversion of lignocellulosic biomass.
Academic journey
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2012 – 2019
Beijing, China
B.Eng. and M.Eng., China Agricultural University
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2018 – 2019
Newport, United Kingdom
M.S., Harper Adams University
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2020 – 2023
West Lafayette, Indiana
Ph.D., Purdue University
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2023 – 2024
Columbus, Ohio
Visiting Scholar, The Ohio State University
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2024 – present
Emeryville, California
Postdoctoral Scholar, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Experience
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Jan 2024 – Present
Postdoctoral Scholar
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Joint BioEnergy Institute and ABPDU), Emeryville, CA
- Screening advanced biomass pretreatment solvents and evaluating how well they release bioavailable intermediates.
- Valorization of plant biomass residues and waste textiles into feedstocks for fuels, chemicals, and materials.
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Sep 2023 – Jan 2024
Visiting Scholar
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Group of Prof. Shang-Tian Yang.
- Developed and evaluated bioprocesses and bioreactor systems for lignocellulosic butanol production.
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Sep 2023 – Jan 2024
Research Scientist
Bio-Missions LLC (BML)
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Jan 2020 – Aug 2023
Graduate Research Assistant
Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering (LORRE), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- Advisors Prof. Nathan Mosier and Prof. Michael Ladisch.
- Studied how pelleting affects the processing and enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass.
Education
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2020 – 2023
Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Dissertation: Recalcitrance of Pelleted Corn Stover to Enzymatic Digestion
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2016 – 2019
M.Eng. in Agricultural Engineering
China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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2018 – 2019
M.S. in Applied Mechatronic Engineering
Harper Adams University, United Kingdom
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2012 – 2016
B.Eng. in Agricultural Mechanization and Automation
China Agricultural University, Beijing, China