Shiyan (Shirley) Jin

Shirley investigates how microbes and enzymes break down tough plant materials, ranging from fungal enzymes that digest hemicellulose to termite gut microbiomes that efficiently process lignocellulose. She employs protein engineering, microbial cultivation, and omics approaches to identify microbes for lignocellulose valorization and to uncover how microbial communities adapt to complex substrates. Her work provides key insights for designing robust biocatalysts and microbial systems for industrial biomass conversion applications.

Outside the lab:
When not in the lab, Shirley enjoys running on the beach.