1. Molecular mechanisms of spatiotemporal dynamic regulation of stomata and breeding applications: Integrate the hierarchical regulatory network of stomatal morphogenesis and opening/closing movements; elucidate the spatiotemporal regulation patterns of stomatal development and opening/closing dynamics under abiotic stress; analyze the synergistic regulatory mechanisms with water use efficiency and photosynthetic efficiency; construct a molecular design breeding system for stress tolerance and high yield based on precise optimization of stomatal traits, providing a theoretical paradigm for targeted genetic improvement of stomatal traits in C3 crops;
2. Regulatory pathways of leaf organ developmental plasticity and the synergistic mechanism of stress tolerance and high yield: Systematically analyze the plasticity regulatory network of alfalfa leaf morphogenesis under abiotic stresses such as drought; reveal the core molecular mechanisms that synergistically balance stress adaptability and yield potential mediated by leaf developmental plasticity; break the inherent trade-off bottleneck between stress tolerance and yield in forage crops;
3. Receptor kinase-mediated stress signal transduction and growth-stress tolerance homeostasis regulatory network: Analyze the full-chain molecular regulatory network of receptor kinase-mediated abiotic stress signal perception, transmembrane transduction, and intracellular cascade responses; identify core functional modules and key regulatory elements that coordinately regulate the growth and development homeostasis and stress adaptability of alfalfa; provide core targets and theoretical support for precise molecular design breeding for stress tolerance and high yield.

2018-12--2025-07 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Postdoc

2017-10--2018-12 University of Washington, Postdoc

2009-09--2017-07 Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D.

   

2018-12--2025-07 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Research Associate/Specialist II

2017-10--2018-12 University of Washington, Postdoctoral Scholar

   

(1) Ligand-induced ubiquitination regulates endocytosis and homeostasis of the ERECTA receptor kinase for stomatal development, New Phytologist, 2026, Co-first author (first)

(2) Preventing inappropriate signals pre- and post-ligand perception by a toggle switch mechanism of ERECTA, PNAS, 2025, First author

(3) Direct attenuation of Arabidopsis ERECTA signalling by a pair of U-box E3 ligases, Nature Plants, 2023, First author

(4) Signaling in plant development and immunity through the lens of the stomata, Current Biology, 2023, First author

(5) Control of grain size and number by MAPK signaling in rice, Seed Biology, 2023, Co-first author (second)