I. Research Group Introduction
Our laboratory is affiliated with the Faculty of Synthetic Biology(SUAT), the Institute of Emerging Agricultural Technology(SUAT), and the Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology. We are equipped with advanced instruments, including intelligent constant-temperature cultivation chambers, a laser confocal platform, and HPLC-MS/MS metabolic analyzers, enabling comprehensive detection throughout the entire process from genes to metabolites.
Our current team comprises 7 postdoctoral fellows, 2 research assistants, 1 laboratory technician, and 3 master’s and Ph.D. students, with members hailing from various regions across China. We adhere to an "open data and shared reagents" policy, conducting weekly progress briefings and journal club sessions to foster an open, rigorous, and vibrant interdisciplinary innovation culture.
Research Focus:
Our research focuses on auxin-regulated developmental plasticity, cyclic nucleotide signaling networks, and synthetic biology-driven crop improvement, with direct applications in urban vertical farming and precision nutrition.
Opportunities:
Outstanding members are eligible for recommendation to joint training or short-term exchange programs at partner institutions, including Sun Yat-sen University and Fudan University.
We welcome students with an interest in botany, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, metabolomics, synthetic biology, or AI+agriculture to join our team. Please submit your resume to: luochu@suat-sz.edu.cn.
II. Lab Manager Introduction
Associate Professor at Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is a recipient of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars (Overseas), and was selected for Shenzhen Pengcheng Peacock Plan (Category B).
He pioneered the discovery that auxin receptors TIR1/AFBs exhibit nucleotidyl cyclase activities, opening a new direction in auxin signaling research. He also demonstrated the critical role of cNMPs in auxin signal transduction, potentially resolving a decades-long debate about the importance of cNMPs in plants.
Dr. Qi has authored over 20 SCI-indexed papers with more than 2,500 citations. As the first or co-first author, he has published over 10 academic papers in prestigious journals such as Nature (2), Plant Cell, Plant Physiology, New Phytologist, and PLoS Genetics. He frequently serves as a reviewer for leading journals, and presents his findings at international academic conferences.
Research Areas
Auxin Signaling: Investigating auxin signal transduction and its applications in agricultural synthetic biology.
cNMPs in Plant Signaling: Exploring the role of cyclic nucleotide monophosphates (cNMPs) in plant cellular signaling and their agricultural applications.
Synthetic Biology in Agriculture: Developing crop improvement strategies, nutrient enhancement, and green biomanufacturing using synthetic biology approaches.
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