SHAOYING WU | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Shaoying Wu | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Shaoying Wu, Hainan University, China

Prof. Shaoying Wu is a distinguished Chair Professor at Hainan University, China, specializing in agricultural pest control and insect molecular biology. With a Ph.D. from China Agricultural University, she leads one of the core teams at national-level laboratories focused on green prevention of tropical agricultural pests. Prof. Wu has held roles in both academia and international research institutions, including a postdoctoral tenure at Michigan State University. She has authored over 40 high-impact publications and serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Economic Entomology. Her work significantly contributes to pesticide resistance mechanisms and sustainable pest management strategies in tropical agriculture.

Author Profile

Scopus

🌱 Early Academic Pursuits

Professor Shaoying Wu embarked on her scientific journey with a clear focus on agriculture and entomology. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Plant Protection from Henan Agricultural University in 2002. Her curiosity and dedication to understanding agricultural pests led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Agricultural Entomology and Pest Control, a collaborative program between Henan Agricultural University and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, which she completed in 2005.

Determined to deepen her expertise, she then completed her Ph.D. in Agricultural Entomology and Pest Control at China Agricultural University in 2012, a top institution for agricultural studies. Her early academic journey reflects a consistent dedication to tackling crop protection through scientific innovation and insect physiology.

🧪 Professional Endeavors

Professor Wu’s career trajectory showcases her progressive academic and research roles. After gaining initial experience as a Graduate Research Associate and Lecturer at Henan Agricultural University (2005–2012), she was promoted to Associate Professor (2012–2018). Her commitment to international collaboration is evident from her postdoctoral research at Michigan State University, USA (2014–2017), where she expanded her knowledge and collaborated with global experts in entomology.

In 2018, she joined Hainan University as a Professor and Chair, currently serving in the Department of Entomology. She is also the Deputy Director of the department, contributing to both academic leadership and research excellence.

šŸ› Contributions and Research Focus

Professor Wu is a recognized expert in insect molecular biology, integrated pest management, and the mechanisms of insecticide resistance. Her research prominently focuses on:

  • Voltage-gated sodium channel mutations in pest species

  • Resistance mechanisms to pyrethroids and DDT

  • Green and sustainable methods for pest control

  • Functional genomics and expression of resistance genes

Her research group is central to two prestigious entities:

  • The Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry Biological Disasters (Ministry of Education)

  • The Tropical Crop Pest Monitoring and Control Center at Hainan University

She has authored or co-authored 42 academic papers, with several published in top-tier journals such as Pest Management Science, PNAS, and Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

šŸ… Accolades and Recognition

Professor Wu’s achievements have been recognized at provincial and national levels. Some of her most notable accolades include:

  • šŸ† Henan Province May 4th Youth Medal (2018)

  • šŸ„‰ Third Prize in the Hainan Yazhou Bay Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (2023)

  • šŸŽ“ Excellent Graduate Tutor Team Award (2023)

  • šŸ‘©ā€šŸ”¬ Recognized as Class C Talent by Hainan Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City (2022)

She has also served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Economic Entomology since 2019 and is a reviewer for top journals including Pest Management Science, Journal of Pest Science, and Insect Science.

šŸŒ Impact and Influence

Professor Wu’s research is shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. Her projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Provincial Key Research Plans, and the Ministry of Agriculture highlight her pivotal role in national agricultural innovation.

She has investigated the molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in species like Drosophila suzukii, Apolygus lucorum, and Myzus persicae, addressing real-world agricultural challenges.

Additionally, her participation in key international projects and editor roles reflects her growing influence in the global scientific community. As a long-standing member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and Overseas Chinese Entomologists Association (OCEA), she bridges research insights across borders.

šŸ“š Legacy and Future Contributions

Professor Wu is not only a prolific researcher but also a dedicated educator and mentor. Her mentorship has strengthened the next generation of entomologists in China, as evidenced by awards recognizing her role in student guidance.

Looking ahead, her ongoing projects on voltage-gated sodium ion channels, pyrethroid resistance, and green pest control technologies position her to contribute substantially to the global goals of food security and sustainable agriculture.

With a solid foundation in both theoretical research and applied solutions, Professor Shaoying Wu is building a legacy rooted in innovation, sustainability, and academic excellence.

šŸ“–Publication Top Notes


šŸ“˜Alanine to glycine substitution in the PyR2 confers sodium channel resistance to Type I pyrethroids

Author: Mengli Chen, Likui Wang, Xiangyi Zhou, Guoxing Chen, Zhanyi Xu, Ru Yan, Jiali Qian, Guonian Zhu, Shaoying Wu, Huiming Wu

Journal: Pest Management science
Year: 2024

Chao Peng | Neurodegenerative disease | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Chao Peng | Neurodegenerative disease | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Chao Peng, Department of Neurology UCLA, United States

“Prof. Chao Peng is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Neurology, UCLA, USA. His research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly the transmission and spread of pathological proteins like alpha-synuclein and tau. Prof. Peng has received numerous awards and grants for his work, including the Michael J. Fox Foundation Grant and the CurePSP Grant.”

Profile

Scopus

Early Academic Pursuits šŸŽ“

Dr. Chao Peng’s journey into the world of biomedical sciences began at Wuhan University, China, where he pursued a B.Sc. in Life Science (2002–2006). His keen interest in developmental biology led him to Fudan University, Shanghai, China, where he earned his Ph.D. (2006–2012) under the mentorship of Dr. Wufan Tao, with co-mentors Min Han, Yuan Zhuang, and Tian Xu. During his Ph.D. studies, he established groundbreaking piggyBac transposon-based genetic screening systems to identify metastasis genes, tumor suppressors, and drug resistance-related genes. His work also included generating Vps18 conditional knockout mice, which played a pivotal role in understanding late endocytosis in neural cell survival and dendrite development.

Professional Endeavors šŸ›ļø

Dr. Peng has had an illustrious career in neuroscience, focusing on molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. After completing his doctoral studies, he embarked on a rigorous postdoctoral fellowship (2013–2018) at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Virginia Lee’s Laboratory, where he made seminal discoveries regarding the pathological α-synuclein strains and their role in neurodegeneration. His tenure at Pennsylvania continued as a Research Associate (2018–2019), where he refined methodologies for studying protein aggregation and transmission in neurodegenerative conditions.

In January 2020, Dr. Peng joined the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as an Assistant Professor. Here, his research delves into the molecular machinery of pathological α-synuclein and tau transmission, their genetic and environmental risk factors, and their structural diversity in diseased brains. His work aims to develop novel disease models for neurodegenerative disorders, offering new therapeutic avenues.

Contributions and Research Focus šŸ”¬

Dr. Peng’s research is dedicated to unraveling the complexities of protein misfolding and aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease and tauopathies. Some of his most notable contributions include:

  • Pathological α-synuclein strains: He demonstrated the biological and structural diversity of α-synuclein strains, which has significant implications for diagnostics and targeted therapies.
  • Cross-seeding of pathological proteins: His studies revealed interactions between α-synuclein, tau, and TDP-43, which may provide insight into disease progression and overlapping pathologies.
  • Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of α-synuclein: He systematically examined PTMs and their role in protein aggregation, shedding light on their functional significance in disease pathogenesis.
  • Development of disease models: His work on oligodendrocyte-mediated α-synuclein transmission has led to advanced models for studying Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and related disorders.
  • High-throughput screening systems: He has pioneered screening techniques to evaluate protein aggregation inhibitors, paving the way for potential therapeutics.

Accolades and Recognition šŸ†

Dr. Peng’s impactful research has been widely recognized in the scientific community. Some of his notable honors include:

  • Invited Speaker at Prestigious Conferences & Institutions: NIH (2024), University of Pennsylvania (2024), UT Southwestern (2023), Tiantan International Movement Disorder Symposium (2022), King’s College London (2020), Cornell University (2020), and more.
  • Editorial & Peer Review Contributions: He serves as a reviewer for renowned journals such as Science Translational Medicine, Nature Chemical Biology, and Molecular Neurodegeneration.
  • Highly Cited Publications: His studies have been published in Nature, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, JBC, and Nature Reviews Neurology, influencing global research in neurodegeneration.

Publication Top Notes

Post-translational modifications of soluble α-synuclein regulate the amplification of pathological α-synuclein

Author: Zhang, S., Zhu, R., Pan, B., Xu, H., Olufemi, M., Gathagan, R., Li, Y., Zhang, L., Zhang, J., Xiang, Q., Kagan, E., Cao, X., Yuan, C., Kim, S., Williams, C., Magaki, S., Vinters, H., Lashuel, H., Garcia, B., Petersson, J., Trojanowski, J.Q., Lee, V.M.,* Peng, C.*

Journal: Nature Nueroscience

Year: 2023

Cellular milieu imparts distinct pathological α-synuclein strains in α-synucleinopathies

Author: Peng, C., Gathagan, R.J., Covell, D.J., Medellin, C., Stieber, A., Robinson, J.L., Zhang, B., Pitkin, R.M., Olufemi, M.F., Luk, K.C.,

Journal: Neurodegeneration

Year: 2018