BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Wu obtained his BS degree in Biology from Lanzhou University in 2000 and Ph.D in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology supervised by Professor Bin Han from National Center for Gene Research (NCGR) and Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, SIBS, CAS in 2005. Between 2005-2007, Dr. Wu worked as a staff at Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, SIBS, CAS and also served as a vice director of the Bureau of Science and Technology of Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. Between 2007 and 2013, Dr. Wu jointed in Professor Joachim Messing’s laboratory at Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University as a postdoc working on the storage proteins of maize and sorghum endosperm and genetic improvement in their nutrition.

In 2013, Dr. Wu came back to Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, SIBS and continues his interest in maize endosperm development and genetic improvement. He acquired the support from Thousand Young Talents Program in 2013 and China National Funds for Excellent Young Scientists in 2014.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Maize is one of the most productive cereal crops in the world in respect to yield per acreage. Maize endosperm accounts for 90% of the dry seed weight and serves as the main organ of nutrient storage. The endosperm provides abundant starch and proteins for food supply, biofuel and chemical production. Therefore, a better understanding of maize endosperm development and filling is critical for its genetic improvement.

Dr. Wu's lab focuses on understanding the genetic regulatory network controlling maize endosperm development and genetic complexity and regulation of the storage reserves, dissecting the mechanisms of endosperm modification in Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and seeking for approaches to improve maize nutritional quality and yield.