On the morning of May 7, 2025, at the invitation of the School of Food and Biological Engineering at Jiangsu University, Professor Li Zhi from the National University of Singapore delivered an academic lecture titled "Engineering novel enzyme-catalysed cascade reactions: green, enantioselective, and efficient synthesis of chiral fine chemicals" in Room A301 of the main building. The lecture was hosted by Professor Zhou Cunshan, Associate Dean of the School, and attended by numerous faculty members and students. The atmosphere was enthusiastic, and the discussions were in-depth and engaging.。
At the beginning of the event, Professor Zhou extended a warm welcome to Professor Li on behalf of the School and briefly introduced his outstanding contributions in the fields of green biomanufacturing and enzyme engineering. Professor Li then gave a captivating presentation focusing on the enzymatic synthesis of high-value chiral nutritional chemicals. He emphasized that enzymatic synthesis, as a core technology in green biomanufacturing, offers advantages such as environmental friendliness, high energy efficiency, and strong selectivity, making it a key direction for transforming and upgrading chemical production. With increasing demand for functional lipids, vitamin derivatives, and other nutritional chemicals in the food, pharmaceutical, and health industries, enzymatic synthesis significantly improves product purity and production efficiency, demonstrating great potential for industrial application.
During the academic exchange session, Professor Li engaged in in-depth discussions with the audience on cutting-edge topics such as directed evolution of enzymes, high-throughput screening technologies, and the design of biocatalytic reaction systems. He responded to several questions from students and faculty and generously shared his research experiences and insights. Attendees expressed that they greatly benefited from the session, gaining a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of enzymatic synthesis technology and its applications in food and life health sectors.
After the lecture, Professor Li also visited the Jiangsu University History Museum, where he learned about the university’s development, academic strengths, and research achievements. He spoke highly of Jiangsu University’s long-standing research foundation in agricultural engineering, biotechnology, and related fields.
This academic visit not only strengthened the School’s ties with a leading international university in the field of green manufacturing but also broadened the academic horizons of students and faculty, further stimulating enthusiasm for scientific research and innovation.
