Faculty Positions in Synthetic Biology at Huazhong Agricultural University

Employer: Huazhong Agricultural University

Location: Wuhan, Hubei (CN)

Salary: Highly competitive salary commensurate with experience and academic accomplishments.

Closing date: Dec 23, 2025

Discipline: Life Sciences, Bioinformatics, Biology, Cell Biology, Genomics, Microbiology, Health Sciences

Position Type: Full Time

Job Type: Faculty, Group Leader/Principal Investigator

Organization Type: Academia

Job Details

I. Discipline Introduction

The Agricultural Microbiology discipline at Huazhong University of Agriculture and Technology boasts a long-standing history and profound academic tradition. Founded by Professor Chen Huagui, a pioneer in China’s soil microbiology discipline and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the discipline currently hosts national-level platforms including the National Key Laboratory for Agricultural Microbiology, the National Engineering Research Center for Microbial Pesticides, and the Agricultural Microbial Resource Center. It is actively developing a major agricultural microbiology research facility. Focusing on critical national strategic needs such as food security, ecological security, and biosecurity, the discipline has achieved remarkable accomplishments in microbial germplasm resource preservation, host-microbe interactions, and innovative development of microbial agricultural products and has also cultivated a large number of outstanding professionals.

II. Requirements

Scientist in Microbial Synthetic Alternative Protein

Responsibilities: Strategic planning, technical roadmap development, and research team building for microbial synthetic alternative protein. The successful candidate is expected to lead a team that employs synthetic biology, systems biology, and metabolic engineering to design and engineer chassis microorganisms including yeasts, photosynthetic microorganisms, and fungi to address key technological bottlenecks in efficient protein synthesis while enhancing production yields, nutritional value, and functional properties. The team will spearhead process optimization and scale-up studies for microbial fermentation-based alternative protein synthesis, driving the translation from laboratory achievements to pilot-scale trials and industrial applications.

Requirements: Having a doctoral degree in fields such as microbiology, fermentation engineering, biochemical engineering, or synthetic biology, the candidate is recognized as an internationally influential leader or outstanding young scholar in the relevant discipline. With research experience in microbial cell factory construction, high-density fermentation processes, and protein separation and purification technologies, the candidate has published a series of high-level research papers in top-tier journals or achieved signature accomplishments including major technological breakthroughs and core patents. Demonstrating exceptional leadership in scientific research, team management capabilities, and the ability to plan and implement large-scale research projects, the candidate possesses strong interdisciplinary communication skills and a global academic vision.

Scientist in Protein Conversion from Agricultural Waste

Responsibilities: Development of core technologies and processes for producing single-cell protein (SCP) or functional protein peptides using agricultural wastes such as corn stalk, rice straw, and livestock manure through biotransformation techniques (e.g., solid-state fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis). Building a comprehensive technical system covering the entire chain from agricultural waste pretreatment, microbial strain selection/construction, efficient transformation processes to protein extraction and purification, with technical-economic evaluations and life-cycle analyses. Exploring synergistic models integrating protein conversion processes with high-value utilization of biomass (e.g., energy and materials) to promote circular resource utilization of agricultural waste. Facilitating collaborations between technology developers and eco-friendly agricultural enterprises for demonstration and large-scale application.

Requirements: Having a doctoral degree in fields such as environmental biotechnology, biochemical engineering, agricultural resource utilization, microbiology, the candidate has comprehensive understanding of agricultural waste composition and characteristics, with extensive experience in biological treatment of waste, microbial resource development, and bioprocess intensification. The candidate has proficient expertise in microbiology, enzymology, fermentation process monitoring, and related experimental techniques, along with capabilities in process design and system integration analysis. The candidate has strong skills in industry-oriented application and practical problem-solving, coupled with excellent teamwork spirit and project management abilities. Preference will be given to candidates with solid-state fermentation experience, bioreactor design expertise, and process scale-up knowledge.

Scientist in Intelligent Design of Protein and Enzyme

Responsibilities: De novo design or engineering of novel protein alternatives with tailored nutritional profiles, optimized texture, superior solubility, and distinctive flavor characteristics by integrating computational biology, artificial intelligence (AI), and rational design methodologies. Conducting de novo design, discovery and directed evolution of innovative enzymes targeting key steps in the alternative protein processing chain to create specialty enzyme preparations with high performance and stability. Systematic studies of protein-structure-function relationships, enzymatic catalysis mechanisms, and substrate interactions to provide theoretical foundations for rational design. Collaboration with microbial synthesis and waste-to-material teams to deliver essential functional protein elements and efficient enzymatic solutions tailored to specific applications.

Requirements: Having a doctoral degree in fields such as computational biology, structural biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, the candidate has extensive experience in computational protein design and enzyme engineering research and is proficient in at least one computational design tool or methodology such as molecular dynamics simulation, homology modeling, and deep learning. The candidate demonstrates strong interdisciplinary academic communication skills.

Scientist in Agricultural Microbial Resources and Functional Genetic Elements Library

Responsibilities: Strategic planning, standard development, and digitalization of high-efficiency production strain repositories and synthetic biology elements libraries within the major agricultural microbiology facility with the mission to establish a world-class center for the preservation and exploration of agricultural microbial resources and functional elements, featuring comprehensive coverage and complete information systems. Conducting large-scale isolation, cultivation, preservation, and functional characterization of agricultural environmental microorganisms by employing advanced technologies such as metagenomics and culturomics. Using bioinformatics and artificial intelligence to identify, design, and optimize core genes, regulatory elements, and metabolic pathways with agricultural applications including pest control, disease resistance, nitrogen fixation, growth promotion, and degradation, thereby enriching the functional genetic elements library resources. Ensuring efficient operation, management, data integration, and international sharing of the library resources to support fundamental research and product development in agricultural microbiology both within and beyond the university.

Requirements: Having a doctoral degree in fields such as microbiology, bioinformatics, genomics, the candidate is recognized as an industry-leading expert or a promising young scholar with exceptional potential and demonstrates profound expertise in large-scale microbial resource mining, microbial ecology, metagenomic data analysis, and synthetic biology elements design. Preference will be given to candidates with leadership experience or active participation in constructing major biological resource repositories and gene banks. Proficiency in high-throughput sequencing technologies, bioinformatics analysis tools, database construction management, and experience of AI applications in genetic mining and design hold significant advantages. The candidate demonstrates outstanding strategic planning capabilities, large-scale platform management skills, and leadership in interdisciplinary team coordination.

Scientist in Agricultural Microbial Synthesis Biology Technology

Responsibilities: Development of innovative, efficient, and precise gene-editing tools and enzymes tailored for agricultural microorganisms to address the limitations of existing technologies in terms of low efficiency and poor adaptability. Practical agricultural applications by employing strategies such as genome streamlining, metabolic network reconstruction, and stress resistance enhancement to create next-generation chassis cells that are highly efficient, stable, and controllable—essentially providing "super cell factories" for synthetic biomanufacturing of agricultural inputs. Leading a team to pioneered core technologies in intelligent fermentation with agricultural microorganisms, including AI-powered process optimization, real-time monitoring with automated control systems, and high-throughput fermentation screening.

Requirements: Having a doctoral degree in fields such as synthetic biology, molecular microbiology, enzyme engineering, biochemistry, with years of independent research experience, the candidate demonstrates expertise and outstanding achievements in specific areas such as gene editing tool development, microbial genome engineering, metabolic engineering, or intelligent biological process control. Preference will be given to candidates who have successfully developed novel tool enzymes or constructed renowned chassis cells. The candidate is proficient in molecular cloning, protein engineering, fermentation process optimization, and has experience in computational biology or automation control.

Scientist in Novel Agricultural Biologics Development

Responsibilities: Leveraging the microbial resource and genetic elements libraries of the major facility and employing synthetic biology to design and engineer microbial strains in a targeted manner so as to develope innovative, efficient, and eco-friendly bio-based pesticides, veterinary drugs, plant vaccines, and feed additives. Conducting research on action mechanism, target recognition, environmental behavior, and ecotoxicology of products to provide scientific validation for regulatory approval and market adoption. Leading the development and optimization of production processes from lab-scale trials through pilot-scale manufacturing to industrial-scale production and effectively addressing technical challenges in commercialization.

Requirements: Having a doctoral degree in fields such as microbiology, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, fermentation engineering, the candidate has research experience in biopesticides, bioveterinary drugs, or microbial feed additives, with understanding of product development processes from laboratory research to industrialization. The candidate has experience in successful product development and commercialization, expertise in microbiology, and good command of knowledge in crop disease control, animal epidemic prevention, and animal nutrition applications. The candidate possesses strong product orientation, market awareness, and exceptional project management skills with cross-disciplinary collaboration capabilities and is capable of building a full-chain team covering fundamental research, product development, and process scale-up.

III. Supports and Benefits

(1) Career development: The university will employ each successful candidate as a professor and supports the candidate’s serving as an independent PI or joining an innovative team in a prominent discipline. Priority support will be given to the candidate in talent recruitment and team building according to the specific needs.

(II) Remuneration and benefits: In addition to national, provincial, and municipal preferential policies, the candidate will be appointed to a Level A Talent Position under the "Shishan Shuoyan Plan" and will be provided with additional named professorship allowances from the relevant discipline. Comprehensive supports across multiple dimensions include competitive compensation packages, research platforms, team development, graduate student recruitment quota, startup funding, on-campus housing, medical insurance, children’s education, and relocation assistance.

(3) Platform support: Leveraging three national key laboratories (National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, and National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops), Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, the College of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, along with high-level talent development bases and scientific innovation platforms, we provide an excellent research environment and career development platform.

(IV) Field visit: Working with Wuhan Optics Valley Talent Group, we invite overseas scholars and their families to visit the university, and provide subsidies of up to 360,000 CNY to support the visit of the university in Hubei.

IV. How to Apply

Eligible applicants should submit the following application materials and send them electronically to the email address: 1. "Employment Application Form for Talent in Synthetic Biology, Huazhong Agricultural University"; 2. ID card (passport), academic degree certificates at various stages, professional title certificates, certificate of employment, proof documents of major performances and achievements, etc.

V. Contact Information

Contact: Yin Ping, Dean of the School of Life Sciences, yinping@mail.hzau.edu.cn; Fan Binyao, Human Resources Department, rcb@mail.hzau.edu.cn; Tel: +86 27 87280957