Jing Yin | Plant Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Jing Yin | Plant Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University | China

Author Profile

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🌟  Suitable for this Best Researcher Award

 Professor Jing Yin is a distinguished scholar in Plant Biotechnology, renowned for her pioneering work in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology of forest and medicinal plants. With over 15 years of academic excellence and leadership at Northeast Forestry University, she has made breakthrough contributions to the biosynthesis of anti-tumor terpenoids and phenolic compounds. Her robust research portfolio includes leading multiple national and provincial projects focused on gene function, plant tissue synthesis, and microbial interaction. A visionary in her field, Prof. Yin employs transcriptomics, metabolomics, and synthetic biology to create sustainable biomanufacturing solutions. Her deep expertise and innovative mindset make her a leading candidate for the Best Researcher Award, exemplifying the award’s mission to honor impactful and futuristic research in plant sciences.

🎓 Education 

 Prof. Jing Yin holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Northeast Agricultural University, with a rich educational background in Plant Science and Crop Science. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s in Plant Science (1997–2001), followed by a Master’s in Crop Science (2001–2004), and culminated in her doctoral studies (2004–2007), where she focused on the molecular mechanisms in plant systems. She further expanded her international experience through a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship in Forestry Science at Northeast Forestry University and a visiting scholar stint at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA) in 2018. There, she specialized in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. This extensive and interdisciplinary training laid a strong foundation for her future research in plant biotechnology, natural product synthesis, and functional genomics, equipping her with tools to address global challenges in agriculture and health.

💼  Professional Experience

 Prof. Jing Yin has built a stellar academic career at Northeast Forestry University, China. Since 2009, she has steadily progressed from Lecturer to Associate Professor (2011–2018), and then to Professor (2019–present). Her career spans cutting-edge research, undergraduate and graduate education, and mentorship. She has trained numerous students in metabolic biology, cell engineering, and bioinformatics. Beyond teaching, Prof. Yin actively leads national research projects on triterpenoid synthesis, drought resistance in plants, and functional gene mining. She collaborates with industrial partners to apply biotechnology in real-world settings, such as medicinal plant production and active compound extraction. Additionally, she holds executive positions in professional societies including the Natural Products Society of Heilongjiang. Her academic leadership and translational research make her an exemplary figure in the plant biotechnology domain.

🏅 Awards and Recognition 

 Prof. Jing Yin’s excellence has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards. In 2023, she received the Honorary Title of Outstanding Undergraduate Tutor at NEFU. Her dedication to education and research has earned her multiple teaching and scientific accolades, including the Second Prize for Teaching Quality (2019) and Science and Technology Awards from Heilongjiang Province (2018, 2019) and the Harbin Progress Award (2016 – First Place). These recognitions underscore her innovative contributions to both theoretical and applied plant biotechnology. She also played a vital role in teaching reform, securing the Second Prize of Teaching Reform in Heilongjiang Province (2020). These awards reflect her dedication to academic excellence, transformative research, and commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists in plant biology and biotechnology.

🌍Research skills On Plant Biotechnology

 Prof. Jing Yin is a leading expert in metabolic regulation, synthetic biology, and plant-microbe interactions. Her work targets biosynthesis of anti-tumor compounds like terpenoids and phenols in medicinal plants using advanced transcriptomics, metabolomics, and gene mining techniques. She excels at elucidating molecular mechanisms, identifying functional genes, and engineering metabolic pathways in plants and microbial systems. Her projects often integrate cell engineering, environmental response regulation, and endophytic fungi analysis to boost bioactive compound production. With a strong foundation in functional genomics, she innovatively applies synthetic biology to recreate plant compound synthesis in yeast and model organisms, accelerating pharmaceutical-grade compound development. Her interdisciplinary research skills bridge plant biology, biochemistry, and industrial biotech, placing her at the forefront of green biomanufacturing and plant metabolic engineering.

📖Publications

Functional identification of five CYP450 genes from birch responding to MeJA and SA in the synthesis of betulinic acid from lupitol
  • Authors: Jie Yang, Ying Li, Yuqi Zhang, Li Jia, Lu Sun, Siyao Wang, Jialei Xiao, Yaguang Zhan, Jing Yin
    Journal: Industrial Crops and Products
    Year: 2021
Isolation and screening of stress-resistant endophytic fungus strains from wild and cultivated soybeans in cold region of China
  • Authors: Jia-lei Xiao, Jian-Guang Sun, Bo Pang, Xin Zhou, Yuan Gong, Lichao Jiang, Luan Zhang, Xiaodong Ding, Jing Yin
    Journal: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
    Year: 2021
Cloning, expression characteristics of a new FPS gene from birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) and functional identification in triterpenoid synthesis
  • Authors: Jing Yin, Ying Li, Chunxiao Li, Jialei Xiao, Jie Yang, Xin Li, Lu Sun, Siyao Wang, Hongmei Tian, Yaguang Zhan
    Journal: Industrial Crops and Products
    Year: 2020
Expression characteristics and function of CAS and a new beta-amyrin synthase in triterpenoid synthesis in birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.)
  • Authors: Jing Yin, Jie Yang, Hongsi Ma, Tian Liang, Ying Li, Jialei Xiao, Hongmei Tian, Zhiqiang Xu, Yaguang Zhan
    Journal: Plant Science
    Year: 2020
Cloning and expression of BpMYC4 and BpbHLH9 genes and the role of BpbHLH9 in triterpenoid synthesis in birch
  • Authors: Jing Yin, Xin Li, Yaguang Zhan, Ying Li, Ziyue Qu, Lu Sun, Siyao Wang, Jie Yang, Jialei Xiao
    Journal: BMC Plant Biology
    Year: 2017

 

Alexandra Castilho | Plant Biochemistry | Advances in Plant Biotechnology

Alexandra Castilho | Plant Biochemistry | Advances in Plant Biotechnology

BOKU University, Austria

Author Profile

Scopus

🌟  Suitable for this Advances in Plant Biotechnology

Dr. Alexandra Castilho is highly suitable for the Research Award in Advances in Plant Biotechnology. Her pioneering contributions to plant glycoengineering, her leadership in international projects, and her impact on developing plant-based biopharmaceuticals make her a deserving candidate. Her research has not only advanced scientific understanding but also facilitated tangible innovations in the biotechnology industry. Recognizing her work would align with the goals of promoting cutting-edge plant biotechnology research with applications in medicine, agriculture, and sustainable biomanufacturing.

 Education

Dr. Castilho completed her Ph.D. in 1996 at the John Innes Institute, University of East Anglia, UK, where she focused on plant glycobiology and molecular biotechnology. She earned her Applied Plant Biology degree from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, in 1990. During her studies, she undertook international research experiences, including an Erasmus Fellowship at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France (1990-1991). As a Ph.D. student (1992-1995), she conducted extensive research on plant-based glycan modifications, laying the foundation for her career in plant glycoengineering. After earning her doctorate, she pursued postdoctoral research at the John Innes Institute (1996-1999) and later at the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB), Portugal (2000-2003). Her interdisciplinary education and research have shaped her expertise in plant glycosylation, protein engineering, and biotechnology applications.

  Professional Experience

Dr. Castilho has held multiple research and leadership positions in plant biotechnology. Since 2018, she has been a Principal Investigator at IPBT, BOKU Vienna, heading the Plant Glycoengineering Group. From 2010 to 2017, she was the Scientific Coordinator of the Laura Bassi Center PlantBioP, where she led groundbreaking studies on plant-based therapeutics. Prior to that, she served as a Senior Researcher at BOKU Austria (2004-2010) and an Invited Scientist at the Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal (2003-2004). Her postdoctoral work at ITQB Portugal (2000-2003) and John Innes Institute, UK (1996-1999), focused on plant glycosylation mechanisms. With over 30 years of expertise in plant biotechnology, molecular biology, and glycoengineering, she has been a key contributor to research projects in plant-based pharmaceuticals, glycan optimization, and biopharmaceuticals production.

 Awards and Recognition 

Dr. Castilho has received multiple awards for her contributions to plant glycoengineering and biotechnology. Her work in plant-based biopharmaceutical production has been widely recognized, earning her the Laura Bassi Center of Expertise Award (2010-2017) for scientific leadership. She has also been honored with funding from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for high-impact projects on plant-derived glycoproteins. In 2023, she was a keynote speaker at GLUPOR 14 and an invited expert at international conferences, including Plant-Based Vaccines & Antibodies 2019. Her patents on plant glycoengineering have contributed to innovative therapeutic solutions, making her a globally recognized scientist in plant biotechnology. She has been a reviewer for top-tier journals and a collaborator on EU-funded research initiatives, further establishing her prominence in the field.

Research skills On Plant Biochemistry

Dr. Castilho specializes in plant cell and molecular biology, glycoengineering, and plant-derived biopharmaceuticals. Her expertise lies in engineering plant glycosylation pathways, optimizing glycan structures for therapeutic applications, and identifying glycan-dependent protein-protein interactions. She has extensive experience in modifying plant-derived therapeutic proteins for biomedical applications, contributing to plant molecular farming as a viable alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals. Her research integrates glycobiology with applied biotechnology, focusing on plant-derived cancer therapeutics, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and viral decoy molecules. She leads multi-institutional research projects on biomanufacturing glyco-optimized proteins. Dr. Castilho is proficient in CRISPR-based gene editing, protein expression systems, and glycan analysis techniques, making her a leading figure in plant glycoengineering.

Publications

An engineered PD1-Fc fusion produced in N. benthamiana plants efficiently blocks PD1/PDL1 interaction
  • Journal: Plant Cell Reports
  • Year: 2025
  • Authors: Shiva Izadi, Rafaela Abrantes, Simon Gumpelmair, Vinny Kunnummel, Henrique O. Duarte, Peter Steinberger, Celso A. Reis, Alexandra Castilho
The ligand-dependent suppression of TCR signaling by the immune checkpoint receptor LAG3 depends on the cytoplasmic RRFSALE motif
  • Journal: Science Signaling
  • Year: 2023
  • Authors: Katharina Aigner-Radakovics, Annika De Sousa Linhares, Benjamin Salzer, Manfred Lehner, Shiva Izadi, Alexandra Castilho, Winfried F. Pickl, Judith Leitner, Peter Steinberger
Engineered soluble, trimerized 4-1BBL variants as potent immunomodulatory agents
  • Journal: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
  • Year: 2023
  • Authors: Claire Battin, Annika De Sousa Linhares, Judith Leitner, Anna Grossmann, Daniela Lupinek, Shiva Izadi, Alexandra Castilho, Petra Waidhofer-Söllner, Katharina Grabmeier-Pfistershammer, Jochen Stritzker et al.
In planta deglycosylation improves the SARS-CoV-2 neutralization activity of recombinant ACE2-Fc
  • Journal: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
  • Year: 2023
  • Authors: Shiva Izadi, Ulrike Vavra, Stanislav Melnik, Clemens Grünwald-Gruber, Esther Föderl-Höbenreich, Markus Sack, Kurt Zatloukal, Josef Glössl, Eva Stöger, Lukas Mach et al.
Assessment of transient expression strategies to sialylate recombinant proteins in N. benthamiana
  • Journal: Journal of Biotechnology
  • Year: 2023
  • Authors: Shiva Izadi, Vinny Kunnummel, Herta Steinkellner, Stefan Werner, Alexandra Castilho