At SF State since 2006
Title(s): Professor
Department: Biology, College of Science & Engineering
Location: Office - Hensill Hall 761;
Lab - Hensill Hall 621, 623, 624, 631,
SF State
Phone Number: (415) 405-2762
Email: chenj@sfsu.edu
Education
B.S. in Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA
Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Post-doctoral Fellowship in the Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Overview
The J. Chen Lab in the Department of Biology investigates molecular pathways and cellular mechanisms that allow bacteria to thrive in diverse environments. One project focuses on how the alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti forms successful symbiosis with appropriate legume hosts and fixes atmospheric dinitrogen, thus enhancing crop yield while reducing reliance on artificial fertilizers. Another area of interest is the development of genetic tools to facilitate the study and metabolic engineering of bacteria.