Zijun Xu

zixu@mtu.edu

219 Hubbell Street

Houghton., MI 49931

(906)370-4366

Objective: To obtain full-time research position in the field of molecular biology and biochemistry.

Education:

Michigan Technological University (MTU), Houghton, MI

Ph. D, Biology, May 2009

Research focus area: Molecular biology and Biochemistry

Relevant courses:

Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology Techniques, Functional Genomics and Biotechnology, Tools of Bioinformatics, Biochemistry II, Graduate Seminar in Bio Science

GPA: 3.81

Nankai University, Tianjin, P.R. China

MS in Microbiology, 2003

Thesis: Research of Bacterial Fermentation of L(+)-Lactic Acid

Relevant Courses:

Advanced Biochemistry, Gene Manipulation Principle, Gene Manipulation Method, Modern Biology Technique, Gene Regulation in Microbiology, Molecular Microbiology Experiments, Cell, Molecular Plasmid, Molecular Virology

GPA: 87.4/100

Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P.R. China

B.E, Food Engineering, 2000

Thesis: Research of Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Fish Waste and Removal of Fishy Smell

GPA: 87.6/100

Teaching Experience:

MTU Biological Science Dept. Houghton MI

Graduate Teaching Assistant 2005-present

• Instructing students on molecular biology techniques;

Ø Develop exam questions;

Ø Graded lab reports

• Instructing Biochemistry Techniques

Ø Prepared lab

Ø Facilitated instructions during lab

Ø Graded lab reports

Nankai University, Dept. of Microbiology, P. R. China

Graduate Teaching Assistant 2/02-7/02

• Instructing students on Experiment of microbiology
• Graded lab reports

Research Experiences:

MTU Biological Science Dept. Houghton MI

GRA 8/04 to present

• Organization and evolution of plant disease resistance (R) gene clusters
• Gene Regulation and Evolution Mediated by Retrotransposons Associated with Rice Genes
  

Nankai University, P.R. China

GRA 00-03

Research of Bacterial Fermentation of L (+)-Lactic Acid

Igcon Therapeutics Co., Ltd, Shanghai, P.R. China

Research assistant 03-04

Expression of enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) in E.Coli DH5

Publications:

· Retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms in six rice genes and their evolutionary history. Gene 412, 50–58.. As the first author.

•           Fine mapping of the Pc locus of Sorghum bicolor, a gene controlling the reaction to a fungal pathogen and its host-selective toxin, TAG Theoretical and Applied Genetics 2007, 114 (6): 961-970. As the 4^th author.

 Other publications in China:

· SAS Application in Studies on Medium Optimization of Lactic Acid Fermentation. Microbiology 2004, 32 (3):89-92. As the first author.

· Breeding of L (+)-Lactic acid Bacteria., Food Science and Technology 2004 (1): 21-23. As the first author.

• Producing Lactic acid Used In Situ Isolation Techniques by Immobilized Lactobacillus Cells. A patent for invention; patent No.: 200310106657.8, CHINA. As the 3^rd author.

Professional Presentations:

• Organization & Evolution of Plant Disease Resistant (R) Gene Clusters, Graduate Research Forum, Biotechnology Research center, MTU, March, 2005

• Organization & Evolution of Genes with Retrotransposon Insertions in Rice, Graduate Research Forum, Biotechnology Research center, MTU, March, 2006

• Effect of Retrotransposon Insertion in Rice Genome, Biotechnology Research Center seminar, MTU, May 23, 2006

Computer Skills:

• GCG (Genetics Computer Group), primer5, clustalW, MEGA 3.1, SAS, blast
• MS Word, Excel, powerpoint, Acrobat

Research instrumentation skills:

· PCR PTC-100 thermal cycler

· NanoDrop spectrophotometer

· ABI 310 DNA sequencer

Leadership:

• MTU Chinese Students and Scholars Association---Treasure. 6/06-5/07
• MTU Chinese Nite 2007---Design, fund raising and performance    12/06-2/07
• MTU Malaysia Nite, the Grand Finale 2007---Performance and catering 3/07
• Parade of Nations, Chinese food sale 2006---Organized people to bring up the menu, to purchase ingredients, to cook and sell food as well as advertisements 9/06
• Free Chinese Class---Initiated free Chinese Class to MTU students. Taught Chinese pinyin as well as introduction of Chinese characters, grammars and culture. 9/07-4/07
• Little Brothers-friends of the Elderly 06-08

Volunteer to visit elderly friend for two years.

Skills:

• PCR and RT-PCR
• Southern Blotting & hybridization
• Radioactive P-32 labeling, hybridization and detection
• DNA sequencing
• Gene cloning (TOPO cloning, Gateway cloning, pGEM cloning) 
• Plant DNA extraction
• Plasmid isolation
• Real time RT-PCR
• SDS-PAGE
• Enzyme extraction, purification and assays 
• Western Blotting 

Language:

Chinese (native)

English (fluent)---lived in U.S for 3 years.

German and Japanese (beginner)