Our research interest mainly focus on the process optimization and scale-up of industrial filamentous fungi fermentation of bulk chemicals such as L-malic acid, cellulosic ethanol, L-lactic acid and industrial proteins such as saccharifying enzyme. We have developed one-step straw fermentation technique based on omics guidance and multi-parameter analysis. The scale-up test of direct fermentation chemicals from plant biomass was realized. We participated in the construction of the world's first production line of L-malic acid with an annual output of 10,000 tons. 

2014/06-2021/06 Engineer, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China

2021/06-present Senior Engineer, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China

Education

2007/09-2011/07 Bachelor in Bioengineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China

2011/09-2014/06 Master in Fermentation Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China

1. Wang H#, Sun T#, Zhao Z, Gu S, Liu Q, Wu T, Wang D, Tian C, Li J*. Transcriptional Profiling of Myceliophthora thermophila on Galactose and Metabolic Engineering for Improved Galactose Utilization. Front Microbiol. 2021;12.

2. Zhang Y, Sun T, Wu T, Li J, Hu D, Liu D, Li J, Tian C*. Consolidated bioprocessing for bioethanol production by metabolically engineered cellulolytic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila. Metab Eng. 2023; 78:192-199.

3. Li J, Lin L, Sun T, Xu J, Ji J, Liu Q, Tian C*. Direct production of commodity chemicals from lignocellulose using Myceliophthora thermophila. Metab Eng. 2019;61 (2020 ):416–26.

4. Zhao J, Li Q, Sun T, Zhu X, Xu H, Tang J, Zhang X*, Ma Y. Engineering central metabolic modules of Escherichia coli for improving β-carotene production. Metab Eng. 2013; 17:42-50.

5. Sun T, Miao L, Li Q, Dai G, Lu F, Liu T, Zhang X*, Ma Y. Production of lycopene by metabolically-engineered Escherichia coli. Biotechnol Lett. 2014;36(7):1515-22.

6. Li, J; Zhang, Y; Li, J; Sun, T; Tian, C*. Metabolic engineering of the cellulolytic thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila to produce ethanol from cellobiose. Biotechnol Biofuels 2020,13:23.

7. Zhu Z, Zhang M, Liu D, Liu D, Sun T, Yang Y,Dong J, Zhai h, Sun W, Liu Q, Tian C*. Development of the thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila into glucoamylase hyperproduction system via the metabolic engineering using improved AsCas12a variants. Microb Cell Fact.2023 ;11;22(1):150.

8. Guo W, Liu D, Li J, Sun W, Sun T,Wang X, Wang K, Liu Q, Tian C*. Manipulation of an α-glucosidase in the industrial glucoamylase-producing Aspergillus niger strain O1 to decrease non-fermentable sugars production and increase glucoamylase activity. Front Microbiol. 2022;20:13.

9. Li J#, Chen B#, Gu S#, Zhao Z, Liu Q, Sun T, Zhang Y, Wu T, Liu D, Sun W, Tian C*. Coordination of consolidated bioprocessing technology and carbon dioxide fixation to produce malic acid directly from plant biomass in Myceliophthora thermophila. Biotechnol Biofuels. 2021;14(1):186.

10. Gu, S#; Li, J#; Chen, B; Sun, T; Liu, Q; Xiao, D; Tian, C* Metabolic engineering of the thermophilic filamentous fungus Myceliophthora thermophila to produce fumaric acid. Biotechnol Biofuels 2018, 11.13, 23.

11. Li, J; Gu, S; Zhao, Z; Chen, B; Liu, Q; Sun, T; Sun, W; Tian, C* Dissecting cellobiose metabolic pathway and its application in biorefinery through consolidated bioprocessing in Myceliophthora thermophila. Fungal Biol Biotechnol. 2019, 6, 21.

National Natural Science Foundation of China , Synthetic hybrid galactose metabolic pathway construction and optimization in Saccharamyces cerevisiae, 2018.01-2020.12

Tianjin synthetic biotechnology innovation ability improvement action project, Optimization and scale-up of fermentation process for plant biomass conversion to L-malic acid, 2021.04-2024.03

He has participated in more than 10 research projects, such as the National key research and Development Plan, the pilot Special project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the general project of the National Natural Science Foundation and the major project entrusted by enterprises.