Faculty Profiles
Yanran Li
Associate Professor, NanoEngineering
Synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, plant metabolism, chemical biology
We blend chemistry and biology to study plants using engineering techniques. Our group specializes in creating microbial cell factories to gain insights into plant metabolism and immunity. The goal is to cultivate sturdier plants that are better equipped to withstand a range of challenges, from pests to changing environmental conditions and climate.
Capsule Bio:
Before joining UC San Diego, Li was an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at UC Riverside from 2016 to 2023. Li earned her Bachelor's degrees in Chemistry from Nankai University and Chemical Engineering from Tianjin University in 2007. She completed her Ph.D. at UCLA in 2012, followed by postdoctoral training at Caltech for one year and then Stanford from 2013-2016. Her work is recognized by an NIH Director's New Innovator Award and an NSF CAREER Award.
Selected Publications:
