Northwest University, China
👨🎓Profiles
Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Weina Li began her academic journey in Biochemical Engineering at the prestigious Beijing University of Chemical Technology, where she pursued her integrated BSc to Ph.D. studies under the supervision of Academician Tianwei Tan. Demonstrating early promise, she enriched her doctoral training with international exposure as a Joint Ph.D. student at Aarhus University, Denmark (2012–2013). Her foundational education laid a strong interdisciplinary base in biochemistry, chemical engineering, and enzyme catalysis, setting the stage for her future innovations in biochemical technology.
🧪 Professional Endeavors
Since 2015, Dr. Li has held progressive academic positions at Northwest University, starting as a Lecturer, then advancing to Associate Professor in 2019. She also completed a Postdoctoral fellowship (2015–2019) under the guidance of Prof. Daidi Fan, further sharpening her expertise. A significant milestone in her international collaboration was her role as a Visiting Scholar at University College London (2021–2022), funded by the NSFC, which expanded her global academic network and research impact.
🔬 Contributions and Research Focus
Prof. Li’s research spans the cutting-edge interfaces of protein engineering, biocatalysis, fermentation technology, enzyme engineering, and functional collagen biomaterials. Her work in constructing enzyme-catalyzed synthesis systems has contributed to both fundamental science and industrial application. Her recent monograph, “Enzyme-Catalyzed Synthesis Systems Construction and Mechanism Studies” (2025), highlights the depth of her mechanistic understanding and innovation.
🌍 Impact and Influence
Prof. Li’s work has been supported by numerous competitive national and regional grants, including the NSFC General Program, Young Scientists Fund, and National Key R&D Subproject, cumulatively exceeding 1.2 million RMB. She was recognized with prestigious awards such as the Technological Invention First Prize by CPCIF in 2016 and the Excellent Poster Award at the 8th National Conference on Chemical & Biochemical Engineering in 2025. These honors underscore her influence in the biochemical and biotechnological communities.
📊 Academic Citations and Publications
Her scientific contributions have been cited in international peer-reviewed journals such as International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Journal of Functional Foods, and Process Biochemistry, where she also serves as a reviewer. As an Editorial Board Member of Green Carbon and Journal of Modern Oncology, Dr. Li actively shapes the direction of emerging biochemical research. Her works are frequently referenced, reflecting a strong academic citation footprint in enzyme technology and collagen-based biomaterials.
🛠️ Technical Skills
Dr. Li is proficient in advanced biochemical and fermentation techniques, including enzyme immobilization and catalysis, collagen biomaterial synthesis, recombinant protein expression and purification, fermentation process optimization, and biocatalytic pathway engineering. Her multidisciplinary technical capabilities allow her to navigate both molecular-level design and scale-up challenges in industrial bioprocessing.
📚 Teaching Experience and Academic Mentorship
As a recognized Excellent Master Thesis Advisor (2024), Dr. Li has mentored numerous graduate students, fostering a research-oriented academic environment. Her teaching style is characterized by a balance of theoretical foundation and practical laboratory training. She’s known for nurturing scientific curiosity and has contributed actively to the curriculum development in biochemical engineering courses at Northwest University.
🏆 Honors and Professional Recognition
🥇 Outstanding Young Editor – Journal of Modern Oncology (2025); 🎓 Excellent Master Thesis Advisor – Northwest University (2024); 🧫 Excellent Poster Award – 8th Nat’l Conf. on Chem. & Biochem. Eng. (2025); 🔧 Technological Invention First Prize – CPCIF (2016). These accolades reflect both her academic excellence and innovative impact on applied biochemistry and enzyme engineering.
📈 Legacy and Future Contributions
Looking ahead, Prof. Weina Li aims to bridge fundamental protein engineering with real-world industrial applications, particularly in green biomanufacturing and therapeutic biomaterials. Her strong foundation in academic leadership, grant acquisition, and global research partnerships positions her to continue contributing significantly to China’s biotechnology landscape and beyond. With a focus on sustainable enzymatic solutions and next-generation collagen systems, her work is expected to influence both academia and biotech industries in the coming years.
📖Notable Publications
Engineered β-glycosidase from Hyperthermophilic Sulfolobus solfataricus with Improved Rd-hydrolyzing Activity for Ginsenoside Compound K Production
Authors: Chenchen Fu, Wenfeng Shen, Weina Li, Pan Wang, Luo Liu, Yangfang Dong, Jing He, Daidi Fan
Journal: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Year: 2024
Effect and mechanism of signal peptide and maltose on recombinant type III collagen production in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Wang X., Wang P., Li W., Zhu C., Fan D.
Journal: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Year: 2023
Residue Effect-Guided Design: Engineering of S. Solfataricus β-Glycosidase to Enhance Its Thermostability and Bioproduction of Ginsenoside Compound K
Authors: Wenfeng Shen, Paul A. Dalby, Zheng Guo, Weina Li, Chenhui Zhu, Daidi Fan
Journal: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Year: 2023
Enhancement of thermal stability of Bacillus subtilis 168 glycosyltransferase YjiC based on PoPMuSiC algorithm and its catalytic conversion of rare ginsenoside PPD
Authors: Hua Guo, Weina Li, Chenhui Zhu, Yanru Chen, Paul A. Dalby, Daidi Fan
Journal: Process Biochemistry
Year: 2023
Directed evolution for soluble and active periplasmic expression of bovine enterokinase in Escherichia coli
Authors: Lee W., Pradhan S., Zhang C., Venanzi N., Li W., Goldrick S., Dalby P.A.
Journal: ResearchSquare
Year: 2022