Primary PI：Yi Shang

Yunnan Normal University Distinguished Professor and Changjiang Scholar, specializing in plant secondary metabolism and synthetic biology. His groundbreaking research on cucumber bitterness mechanisms was featured on the cover of Science and recognized as a notable candidate for China's Top 10 Scientific Advances.

Primary PI：Yongshuo Ma

Research Scientist specializing in synthetic biology for plant natural products. Developer of RevoDesign protein engineering software, with pioneering work on cucumber bitterness mechanisms published in Science. Integrates AI, metabolic engineering, and high-throughput screening to advance terpenoid biosynthesis

Secondary PI：Xiaopeng Zhang

Xiaopeng Zhang mainly focuses on the developing and applification of enzyme modification platforms in synthetic biology researches by integrating cutting-edge protein design technologies

Advisor：Wen Xiong:

Lecturer and Master’s Supervisor at School of Information Science, Yunnan Normal University, specializing in big data systems and spatiotemporal computing. As a technical advisor for the iGEM team, he provided essential guidance on Wiki architecture design and visualization implementation

Yinying Yao：

I’m a PhD student in biochemist, focusing on structural biology and computational enzyme engineering. I’m studying the laboratory evolution methods of key enzymes in plant natural product synthesis pathways. I specialize in organizing computational toolchains like Rosetta, AlphaFold, ESM and RFdiffusion. In my free time, I tinker with automated scripts, prompt engineering and vibe coding w/ LLMs. Besides research work, I enjoy scientific visualization and humor meme creation. As the dry team leader of the iGEM, my greatest achievements have been transforming “good ideas from people” into “implementable processes in lab”, and decomposing tasks using DBTL cycles to improve experimental output with smart mutation libraries that fits resource-constrained conditions.

I have also placed greater emphasis on interdisciplinary communication and humanistic practice—ongoing dialogue with businesses, experts, and the public significantly enhances the feasibility and ethical boundaries of my proposals. iGEM has further solidified my direction: to bring advanced enzyme design methods to more laboratories using reproducible, teachable, and transferable tools, thereby making natural product biomanufacturing faster, more stable, and greener.

Saihang Zhang:

As the IHP (Integrated Human Practices) Leader of the iGEM team, I major in Agricultural Bioenvironment and Energy Engineering with a strong interest in life sciences and engineering applications. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, hiking, and running with friends – these activities help me maintain a positive mindset and build meaningful relationships. Through the YNNU 2025 iGEM project, I engaged extensively in social investigations and practical learning, realizing that addressing industrial R&D needs is crucial as scientific advancement serves as the core engine driving industrial development. My iGEM experience has taught me to grow collaboratively with the team, and these invaluable experiences will undoubtedly propel me toward a brighter future.

Ye Wang:

As a graduate student in genetics, I have always maintained a profound curiosity about the mysteries of life sciences, with a particular passion for exploring cutting-edge fields such as gene editing and synthetic biology. In my spare time, I enjoy immersing myself in nature through hiking and photography, capturing the beauty and grandeur of mountains, rivers, and oceans—this not only allows me to unwind amidst scientific research but also often provides new perspectives for observing the world. Participating in the iGEM competition has been an unforgettable journey, through which I have not only deepened my understanding of teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration but also gained firsthand experience in transforming synthetic biology theories into innovative solutions for real-world problems. This experience has further solidified my determination to devote myself to the research and application of life sciences in the future.

Yu GAO:

I'm a student specializing in Genetics and Synthetic Biology. Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, movie-watching, and running—activities that strengthen both my physical endurance and team collaboration skills. My iGEM journey has illuminated the power of interdisciplinary cooperation: while transforming lab ideas into societal solutions, I've not only enhanced my scientific capabilities but also deepened my sense of responsibility as a researcher. This experience reinforces my belief that truly impactful science must be rooted in collective wisdom and societal needs.

Jie Liu:

Hello! I'm Jie Liu, with a research focus in synthetic biology. Outside of lab work, I enjoy the precision of badminton and billiards, as well as the relaxation of hiking and connecting with nature during trips with classmates. As a member of Team YNNU-China, my iGEM experience has deeply shown me that outstanding projects are never solo performances, but symphonies of collective intelligence. Through clear division of tasks and mutual support, we transformed individual initiative into collaborative momentum. It was this close collaboration that enabled us to deliver a comprehensive scientific outcome.

Zhenming Shi：

I am Zhenming Shi, a Biotechnology student passionate about fundamental research and practical applications in synthetic biology. Through my iGEM participation, I engaged deeply in the entire project cycle from experimental design to implementation, realizing how synthetic biology bridges scientific vision and real-world solutions. Outside the lab, I enjoy badminton, cycling, and science reading—activities that have enhanced my teamwork skills and taught me to align research with societal needs. This experience in iGEM will continue to inspire my future scientific journey.

Lirui Zhang：

I’m a graduate student in Genetics. An enthusiast of football and outdoor hiking, I find balance and inspiration through connecting with nature. As an iGEM team member, the project has deepened my understanding of collaborative power, enhancing both my research capabilities and sense of responsibility. This experience will serve as a solid foundation for my future growth.

Yuqian Chen：

I’m a first-year graduate student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Passionate about music and table tennis, she values maintaining balance in her research life. As the lead operator of the team's WeChat public account, she specializes in translating complex synthetic biology concepts into accessible science communication content, building a bridge between science and the public. The positive feedback from readers reinforces her belief that research stories deserve to be shared, and science communication can inspire broader interest in synthetic biology.

Wantong Yue：

I am Wantong Yue, a student majoring in Television Choreography and Directing. With a passion for photography and video creation, I naturally immersed myself in the visual design and video documentation work for this project. Through deep involvement in the project, I significantly enhanced my skills in multimedia production, cross-team collaboration, and project management. While coordinating art tasks, producing videos, and conducting tracking shots, I learned to allocate resources efficiently, adapt to multitasking demands, and collaborate effectively with team members from diverse disciplines. This experience has reinforced my belief that rigorous yet creative visual presentation serves as a vital bridge connecting science with the public.

Yining Song：

My name is Song Yining, I am a college student majoring in radio and television choreography and directing, and I am passionate about learning new skills in my daily life. For instance, I have self-taught skills such as motion graphics animation and Blender modeling. I also enjoy hobbies like cooking, and percussion music.

Through this project, I found an effective way to communicate and collaborate with the team. I realized that clearly articulating needs and questions is an art in itself. At the same time, this project experience made me aware that there are still many areas where I need to continue learning.

Moreover, I was able to apply my self-taught animation skills in this project, truly putting this ability into practice and achieving positive results. This experience not only enhanced my technical application skills but also further bolstered my confidence in my professional field.

Qianru Liu：

I am Qianru Liu, a student in Television Choreography and Directing. Passionate about video editing and visual design, I specialize in using visual language to communicate scientific narratives. Through documenting Human Practices activities for the iGEM project, I have come to realize that compelling visual content can break down knowledge barriers, allowing synthetic biology to connect with the public in a more engaging and relatable way.

Ya An：

I am Ya An, a 2024 undergraduate majoring in Optoelectronic Engineering at Yunnan Normal University. With a passion for art, sports, and programming, I thrive on drawing inspiration from diverse fields. Serving as the lead artist for the iGEM team, I contributed to animation design and web visualization. This experience revealed the power of interdisciplinary collaboration: using art to humanize science, allowing synthetic biology to engage the public in more vibrant ways.