Kangjia LI, Research Assistant Professor at Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT), received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). Dr. Li completed her postdoctoral research at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her current research focuses on the functional characterization of plant phase-separation proteins and the regulatory mechanisms underlying key growth and developmental processes in soybean. Her research findings have been published as first author or corresponding author in internationally recognized journals including Plant Journal and Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. Dr. Li currently leading a 2026 NSFC Young Scientists Fund (Category C) project.

1.Functional Analysis of Plant Phase Separation Proteins

2.Regulatory Mechanisms of Critical Growth and Developmental Processes in Soybean

Education：

2017–2022: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China Botanical Garden, Ph.D.

2014–2017: Guangxi University, College of Life Science and Technology, Master

2010–2014: Beijing Forestry University, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Bachelor

Work Experience：

2026–Present: Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, Research Assistant Professor

2022–2025: South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Postdoctor

2016–2017: University of Florida, USA, Short-term Visiting Scholar

Research Projects:

1.Young Scientists Fund (Category C), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2027–2029, Principal Investigator

2.Young Scientists Fund (Category B), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2027–2029, Participant

3.General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2024-2027, Participant

Selected publications:

1.YaoX, ChenA, JianM, LiX, LiuX, HouX, ZhangC* and LiK*. 2025. NF-YCs mediate RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription to regulate FLM expression. Plant Journal, 122: e70293.

2.LiK, WangC* and OwD*. 2022. Root microbiome changes associated with cadmium exposure and/or overexpression of a transgene that reduces Cd content in rice. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 237: 113530.

3.MaX, LiK, CaiJ, OwD*. 2023. Expression of maize OXS2a in Arabidopsis stunts plant growth but enhances heat tolerance.Plant Science, 337: 111877.

4.NiuX, WeiZ, ZouH, XieG, WuF, LiK, JiangW, TangJ* and HeY*. 2015. Complete sequence and detailed analysis of the first indigenous plasmid from Xanthomonas oryzaepv.Oryzicola. BMC Microbiology, 15: 233.

Authorized Patents:

1.He Y, Li K, Niu X, et al. A shuttle plasmid based on Xanthomonas and its application. Patent No: ZL201710292640.8.