Li Zhi
Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Tel: +65 6516 8416
Email: chelz@nus.edu.sg

What are your present research interests?

My present research interests are in advanced biocatalysis for manufacturing of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, production of bio-based chemicals and fuels, and development of functional and smart materials.

What do you see as your future research directions?

Much as it is now, the pursuit for greener and more environmentally sustainable biotransformation processes will continue to be the driving force behind our future research. Focuses will be on the advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, utilization of renewable feedstocks or waste in bioproduction, and the creation of novel biodegradable polymeric materials.

Does your laboratory have a particularly strong research expertise?

Our laboratory has strong expertise in enzyme discovery and evolution, enzyme immobilization, cascade biotransformations, in vivo and in vitro biotransformation, and bioprocess development.

Recent Publications

1. Wu S, Zhou Y, & Li Z (2019) Biocatalytic selective functionalisation of alkenes via single-step and one-pot multi-step reactions. Chemical Communications, 55, 883-896.
2. Zeng S, Liu J, Anankanbil S, Chen M, Guo Z, Adams JP, Snajdrova R, & Li Z (2018) Amide Synthesis via Aminolysis of Ester or Acid with an Intracellular Lipase. ACS Catalysis, 8: 8856-8865.
3. Zhou Y, Wu S, & Li Z (2017) One-Pot Enantioselective Synthesis of D-Phenylglycines from Racemic Mandelic Acids, Styrenes, or Biobased L-Phenylalanine via Cascade Biocatalysis. Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, 359, 4305-4316.
4. Wu S, Zhou Y, Wang TW, Too, HP, Wang DIC, & Li Z (2016) Highly regio- and enantioselective multiple oxy- and amino-functionalizations of alkenes by modular cascade biocatalysis. Nature Communications, 7, 11917.