Principal Investigator

See-Yeun Ting, Ph.D.  (陳詩允)

See-Yeun received his B.S. in Life Sciences from National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan in 2009. He was a research technician in Dr. Soo-Chen Cheng's lab at Academia Sinica before completing his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in Dr. Elizabeth Craig's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the U.S.
From 2017 to 2021, See-Yeun was a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Joseph Mougous in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Washington. In 2021, he returned to Taiwan and establishing his lab in the Institute of Molecular Biology at Academia Sinica.

Chia-En received her B.S. degree in Plant Pathology from National Chung-Hsing University and pursued her M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from National Cheng-Kung University. After graduation, she continued working on her project as a research assistant for a year, identifying a novel host factor involved in the colonization and tolerance of enterohemorrhagic E. coli in C. elegans. In 2021, she became a Ph.D. student in the TIGP-MCB program at Academia Sinica and joined in the Ting lab. Chia-En's research goal is to identify and characterize novel pathways by which bacteria defend against interbacterial antagonism.

Jasmine received her B.S. and M.S. in Medical Laboratory Science from National Cheng-Kung University in Taiwan in 2014 and 2017, respectively. She studied the functions of five unknown genes of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori J99, regulated by the global post-transcription regulator, CsrA, and their roles in motility. She worked as a research assistant in Dr. Yu-ling Shih's lab at Academia Sinica from 2020-2021. In 2021, she joined the Ting lab as a Ph.D. student, where she aims to study the underlying mechanism of a novel interbacterial effector.

Po-Yin received both bachelor and master degrees in Plant Pathology and Microbiology from National Taiwan University. During her graduate studies, Po-Yin investigated the function of the movement protein, TGB1 in the potexviruses CVX and PiVX during viral infection. In 2022, she joined the Ting lab as a Research Associate, where she employed synthetic biology approaches to understand how microbes communicate with each other in close quarters. Within less than two years, she published her first-author paper in the Ting lab (Chen et al. 2024, Nature Communications). [Research Finding]

In 2024, Po-Yin decided to pursue her doctoral degree in the TIGP-MCB program in the Ting lab. She will employ a high-throughput screening strategy to better understand how the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, defends itself and attacks its competitors in bacterial communities.

Yung-Chih graduated from the National University of Kaohsiung in 2021 with a B.S. in Life Sciences. While at NUK, he worked as an undergraduate researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Chia-Ning Yang. He studied how the mutations on Nucleotide Leucine rich-repeat Receptors, Pikp-1, affects the oligomization, and the interaction with an Avirulence protein effector, AVR-Pia, through structural and biomolecular modeling approaches. After graduation, he joins the Ting lab as a research assistant at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Academia Sinica, where he focuses on the fundamental mechanisms of interbacterial antagonism.

Feng-Qi holds a B.S. and a M.S. degree in Microbiology from Soochow University in Taiwan. During his graduate studies, he conducted research on coral holobionts, with a specific focus on phages, while working under the mentorship of Dr. Sen-Lin Tang at the Biodiversity Center in Academia Sinica. In 2023, Feng-Qi became a Research Associate in the Ting Lab, where he investigates the intricate interactions between bacteria and phages.

Kari earned her bachelor's degree with a major in Agronomy and a minor in Plant Pathology at National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan. Her research journey commenced as an intern scholar collaborating with Dr. Chih-Hang Wu at the Institute of Plant and Microbiology in Academia Sinica. During this period, Kari acquired valuable laboratory experience while investigating the specificity of the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) network. This initial exposure fueled Kari's sustained interest in NLRs, leading to her pursuit of a master's degree in Plant Pathology at National Chung Hsing University. Her thesis focused on unraveling the molecular mechanism of helper NLRs in plant immunity mediated by receptor-like proteins. Post-graduation, Kari decided to further her scientific endeavors and joined the Ting lab at IMB, where her research is centered on elucidating how bacteria counteract their competitors.

Wen-Chien's passion for understanding plant-microbe interactions began during his studies in Plant Pathology at National Chung Hsing University, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees. His research on the diverse phenotypes of native Pectobacterium species across different plant hosts sparked a deep curiosity in microbial dynamics. Following graduation, he continued his journey as a research assistant in Dr. Chia-Ching Chu's lab. In 2024, Wen-Chien joined the Ting lab to delve into how bacteria compete and antagonize each other within complex microbial communities.

Vatre's journey into marine biotechnology began with his bachelor's degree in Marine Science from Hasanuddin University, Indonesia, where he explored the incredible potential of heavy metal-degrading bacteria in bioremediation. His passion for marine microbes deepened during his master's studies at National Taiwan Ocean University, where he shifted his focus to diesel-degrading bacteria, further contributing to the vital field of bioremediation. In 2024, Vatre joined the Ting lab, eager to unravel the intricate defense mechanisms bacteria use to protect themselves from rival species in microbial communities.

Hui Ting is from Nangang, Taipei, and has a lifelong passion for nature. This enthusiasm guided her through university, where she gained valuable experience in biological research. At the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, she further honed her laboratory skills and deepened her fundamental knowledge, which she now brings to her role as lab manager in the Ting lab. Beyond her professional interests, Hui Ting enjoys traveling abroad and exploring new places. She also appreciates quiet moments with a good cup of coffee. She is excited to be part of this team, eager to contribute by streamlining lab operations and enhancing the team's research efforts.

Daphne (right) is a passionate Life Sciences major at National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, with a deep curiosity for the natural world. Her scientific journey began early, when she worked in Dr. Hao-Jen Huang's lab at National Cheng-Kung University during high school, exploring the allelopathic interactions of lemon eucalyptus on crop growth. In 2024, she decided to join the Ting lab at IMB, where she is delving into the dynamic world of microbial communities and uncovering how bacteria communicate and interact with other microbes.

Lily grew up in the southwestern Taiwan at Pingtung city, where she got educated and learned her interests in the fundamental biology. Later, she decided to move to the north and began her college career in the Department of Life Sciences at the National Taiwan University. Lily had a broad interest in biological sciences and the one drew her the most attention is the subject of Bacteriology. In 2022, she became an active member in the Ting lab as a Pre-graduate Research Scholar. She is working in the "Defense Team" to investigate how pathogenic bacteria protect themselves from external biotic stress.

In 2023, Lily successfully applied and acquired the Research Grant for University Students from NSTC (National Science and Technology Council). Lily will receive a monthly stipend over the course of the research period in the Ting Lab.

Nia is a visiting professor from the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) in the Philippines. Her research focuses on the Type VI secretion system (T6SS) in marine roseobacters, with the goal of developing innovative biocontrol tools for aquaculture. Nia holds a B.S. in Fisheries from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas and is a proud recipient of the Balik Scientist Award. She aims to leverage her expertise to advance aquaculture research and development in the Philippines.
During her Ph.D. training, Nia conducted research at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, where she investigated the molecular mechanisms of the T6SS, a protein secretion nanomachine, in the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. With twenty years of research experience in molecular biology, microbiology, biotechnology, and aquaculture, Nia has contributed to various institutions, including the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), the Institute of Biology at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and Academia Sinica in Taiwan. Before joining NFRDI, she served as an Assistant Professor III at the Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, UPV.

Vu Phuong Thao Nguyen
Thao is a passionate third-year Biotechnology major at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture. She has conducted research on phages infecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a pathogen responsible for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp in Vietnam. In the summer of 2024, she will continue to pursue her fascination with phages by focusing on the isolation of Salmonella Typhimurium-specific phages as an international intern at the Ting Lab.

Kiwi Hu
Kiwi lived in Taipei before deciding to move to southern Taiwan to begin her college career. She is majoring in Biotechnology at the National Kaohsiung Normal University. In 2023, she joined Dr. Duen-Wei Hsu's laboratory, where the research focuses on bacterial drug resistance and pathogenicity. Currently, she is working on a project to construct plasmids that include Elizabethkingia's drug-resistant genes. This summer, Kiwi will work with Jasmine as an intern at the Ting Lab, eager to expand her knowledge and contribute to groundbreaking research.