Biological and Chemical Engineering Department's Faculty Research Labs

Meet our researchers and explore their labs

  • Dr. Jixun Zhan

    jixun.zhan@usu.edu

    Metabolic Engineering Lab

    We engineer microbes into tiny cellular factories to produce valuable products such as biopharmaceuticals and natural dyes.

  • Dr. Ron Sims

    ron.sims@usu.edu

    Sustainable Waste-to-Bioproducts Engineering Center

    Production of value bioproducts through engineering new water reclamation technologies and processes. Biofuels, bioplastics, biofertilizers, carbon capture, and nutrient recycling to prevent harmful algae blooms to build local industry and protect public health.

  • Dr. Keith Roper

    keith.roper@usu.edu

    Nanobiophotonics Lab

    We use photonics and nanomaterials to engineer gene function in cells to combat disease and improve human health. Our tools are used in cancer therapy, DNA/RNA vaccines, and quantum biology.

  • Dr. David Britt

    david.britt@usu.edu

    Biomaterials, Antivirals & Nanomaterials Lab

    We research nanoscale processes, natural products, and targeted delivery systems with applications in medicine and agriculture.

  • Dr. Luguang Wang

    luguang.wang@usu.edu

    Microbial Electrochemical Technology Lab

    Bioenergy production using renewable electricity and wastewater. Carbon capture for sustainable food production, and biosystems modeling.

  • Dr. Erika Espinosa-Ortiz

    erika.espinosa-ortiz@usu.edu

    Fungal Biotechnology & Engineering (FBE) Lab

    The FBE lab studies the potential use of microbes (particularly fungi) and biological processes for different applications including the removal of pollutants, resource recovery, and development of novel alternative building materials (biocement).

  • Dr. Anhong Zhou

    anhong.zhou@usu.edu

    Molecular and Cellular Sensing and Imaging Lab

    Our lab focuses on the development of new instrument technologies for living cell imaging and biomolecular detection.

  • Dr. Foster Agblevor

    foster.agblevor@usu.edu

    Bioenergy Center, Thermochemical Research Lab

    Thermochemical production of biofuels from grasses and agricultural waste. Research is focused on the production of sustainable aviation fuels and upgrading the quality of heavy petroleum feedstocks (pre-refinery) derived from grasses and agricultural waste.

  • Dr. Lukas Buecherl

    lukas.buecherl@usu.edu

    Synthetic BioSystems (SBS) Lab

    Explore the intersection of biology and engineering, focusing on the design, development, and validation of innovative biological systems and processes. Our primary emphasis is on Synthetic Biology, exploring the potential to engineer microorganisms to tackle global challenges in health and the environment.

  • Dr. Elizabeth Vargis

    vargis@usu.edu

    Tissue Engineering Lab

    We grow cells and tissues to replicate diseases and develop better methods of prevention and early detection.

  • Dr. Kyle Moor

    kyle.moor@usu.edu

    Environmental (Photo)Chemistry Lab

    We study environmental chemistry, using chemistry principles and spectroscopy to elucidate degradation pathways of organic contaminants. A focus of our group is photochemistry – how light interacts with contaminants and how they then degrade. We have on-going projects on wildfire-derived organic matter and biodegradable plastics.

  • Dr. Yiming Su

    yiming.su@usu.edu

    Nanotechnology Application and Development Lab

    Developing and applying nanotechnology in environmentally friendly innovation, fertilizers and pesticides, removing contaminants, and resource recovery.

  • Dr. Joanna Hou

    Liyuan.hou@usu.edu

    H Lab

    Dedicated to investigating and utilizing functional microbial communities to promote water quality and resource recovery in engineering and natural systems. Applied environmental microbiology in waste recycling and biotechnology via the one health approach.

  • Dr. Yu Huang

    yu.huang@usu.edu

    MicroBrain Lab

    This multidisciplinary platform integrates micro-engineering, nanomaterials, cell biology, biofabrication, 3D printing, bio-imaging, physiology, etc. The discoveries and developed techniques have made a broad impact in the fields of anti-cancer research, neurosciences, stem cell biology, tissue implants, and space biology.