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Research Interests
- Electro-microbiology with particular focus on the extracellular electron transfer pathway and microbial phenotype
- Bottom-up electro-biosynthesis process development driven by quantitative and holistic understandings from biochemistry, electrochemistry and process engineering
- Digitalization and modelling of electro-biotechnological process
Since 10/2024
Founding Speaker of the Helmholtz POFIV IP TapNature Platform Project MYSUN
Since 08/2022
Head of BMBF Junior Research group Biophotovoltaics
Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig
Since 03/2022
Elected member of the Scientific and Technical Council (WTR)
Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig
07/2023 - 09/2024
Elected co-speaker of Helmholtz POFIV Topic 7 platform project HYPRO
03/2021 - 07/2022
Research Team Leader of Biophotovoltaics, Systems Biotechnology group, Department of Solar Materials,
Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig
08/2017 - 02/2021
Postdoc, Systems Biotechnology group, Department of Solar Materials
Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig
01/2014 - 07/2017
PhD Candidate at the University of Queensland, Australia
11/2015 - 03/2016
Guest Researcher at Technische Universität München, Germany
01/2013 - 09/2013
Senior Engineer (Module R&D) at Jinkosolar, China
07/2012 - 01/2013
07/2012 - 09/2009
09/2007 - 09/2008
09/2005 - 07/2009
Graduate Training program (R&D Dep.) at Jinkosolar, China
Master of Material Engineering at Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Undergraduate Innovation Foundation project at WUST, China
Bachelor of Bioengineering at Wuhan University of Science & Technology (WUST), China
2020 Leistungsprämie, UFZ, Germany
2015 Graduate School International Travel Award, UQ, Australia
2015 Research Higher Degree Top-up Scholarship, UQ, Australia
2014 Research Higher Degree International Scholarship, UQ, Australia
2014 Research Higher Degree Research Scholarship, UQ, Australia
Editorial
2024 Editorial Board Member, New Biotechnology, Elsevier;
2023 Editorial board member, Microbial Biotechnology, Wiley;
2022 Guest Special Issue Editor, Microbial Biotechnology, Wiley;
2022 Review Editor Board in synthetic biology, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers
2021 Guest Associate Editor, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers
2021 Early-Career Editorial Board, Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, Elsevier
Reviewers (incomplete list)
Chem, Advanced Materials, Biosensors & Bioelectronics, Environmental Science & Technology, Essays in Biochemistry, Biotechnology for Biofuel, Bioelectrochemistry, Environmental Science & Ecotechnology, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, ACS Synthetic Biology, International Journal of Hydrogen Research, etc
Examiners
2022 ERC, Europe
2021 Rhodes University, South Africa
2016 Fondazione Cariplo Foundation, Italy
Index:
You could use our publication index for further requests.
2025 (4)
- Ji, Q., Liu, Y., Zhang, H., Gao, Y., Ding, Y., Xie, J., Zhang, J., Jin, X., Lai, B., Chen, C., Wang, J., Gao, W., Mei, K. (2025):
Structural insights into the substrate recognition of ginsenoside glycosyltransferase Pq3-O-UGT2
Adv. Sci. 12 (11), art. 2413185 10.1002/advs.202413185 - Schneider, H., Lai, B., Krömer, J.O. (2025):
Understanding the electron pathway fluidity of Synechocystis in biophotovoltaics
Plant J. 121 (2), e17225 10.1111/tpj.17225 - Yuan, J., Appel, J., Gutekunst, K., Lai, B., Krömer, J.O. (2025):
Molecular dynamics of photosynthetic electron flow in a biophotovoltaic system
Environ. Sci. Ecotechnol. 23 , art. 100519 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100519 - Yuan, J., Bai, Y., Lenz, C., Reilly-Schott, V., Schneider, H., Lai, B., Krömer, J.O. (2025):
The impact of redox mediators on the electrogenic and physiological properties of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in a biophotovoltaic system
ChemSusChem , e202402543 10.1002/cssc.202402543
2024 (4)
- Lai, B. (2024):
Burning questions: Exploring the limits of microbial electrochemical technology for industrial biotechnological applications
Microb. Biotechnol. 17 (1), e14370 10.1111/1751-7915.14370 - Pause, L., Weimer, A., Wirth, N.T., Nguyen, A.V., Lenz, C., Kohlstedt, M., Wittmann, C., Nikel, P.I., Lai, B., Krömer, J.O. (2024):
Anaerobic glucose uptake in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in a bioelectrochemical system
Microb. Biotechnol. 17 (1), e14375 10.1111/1751-7915.14375 - Reilly-Schott, V., Gaibler, J., Bai, Y., Mier-Jimenez, A., Qasim, M., Lai, B. (2024):
Electron leaks in biophotovoltaics: A multi-disciplinary perspective
ChemCatChem 16 (18), e202400639 10.1002/cctc.202400639 - Weimer, A., Pause, L., Ries, F., Kohlstedt, M., Adrian, L., Krömer, J., Lai, B., Wittmann, C. (2024):
Systems biology of electrogenic Pseudomonas putida - multi-omics insights and metabolic engineering for enhanced 2-ketogluconate production
Microb. Cell. Fact. 23 , art. 246 10.1186/s12934-024-02509-8
2023 (6)
- Gu, L., Xiao, X., Lee, S.Y., Lai, B., Solem, C. (2023):
Superior anodic electro-fermentation by enhancing capacity for extracellular electron transfer
Bioresour. Technol. 389 , art. 129813 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129813 - Lai, B. (2023):
Biophotovoltaik: mikrobielle Wasserstoffproduktion
Biospektrum 29 (1), 97 - 98 10.1007/s12268-023-1873-3 - Lai, B., Krömer, J., Aulenta, F., Wu, H., Nikel, P.I. (2023):
Exploiting synergies between microbial electrochemical technologies and synthetic biology
Microb. Biotechnol. 16 (3), 485 - 488 10.1111/1751-7915.14208 - Schneider, H., Lai, B., Krömer, J. (2023):
Interference of electron transfer chain inhibitors in bioelectrochemical systems
Electrochem. Commun. 152 , art. 107527 10.1016/j.elecom.2023.107527 - Schneider, H., Lai, B., Krömer, J. (2023):
Utilizing cyanobacteria in biophotovoltaics: An emerging field in bioelectrochemistry
In: Bühler, K., Lindberg, P. (eds.)
Cyanobacteria in biotechnology. Applications and quantitative perspectives
Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biotechnol. 183
Springer Nature, p. 281 - 302 10.1007/10_2022_212 - Wang, M., Ji, Q., Lai, B., Liu, Y., Mei, K. (2023):
Structure-function and engineering of plant UDP-glycosyltransferase
Comp. Struct. Biotechnol. J. 21 , 5358 - 5371 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.10.046
2022 (2)
- Gemünde, A., Lai, B., Pause, L., Krömer, J., Holtmann, D. (2022):
Redox mediators in microbial electrochemical systems
ChemElectroChem 9 (13), e202200216 10.1002/celc.202200216 - Lai, B., Glaven, S., Song, H. (2022):
Editorial: Electrobiotechnology towards sustainable bioeconomy: Fundamental, optimization and applications
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 10 , art. 901072 10.3389/fbioe.2022.901072
2021 (3)
- Lai, B., Schneider, H., Tschörtner, J., Schmid, A., Krömer, J.O. (2021):
Technical-scale biophotovoltaics for long-term photo-current generation from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
Biotechnol. Bioeng. 118 (7), 2637 - 2648 10.1002/bit.27784 - Lai, B., Schneider, H., Tschörtner, J., Schmid, A., Krömer, J.O. (2021):
Inside front cover image, Volume 118, Number 7, July 2021
Biotechnol. Bioeng. 118 (7), ii - ii 10.1002/bit.27411 - Nguyen, A.V., Lai, B., Adrian, L., Krömer, J.O. (2021):
The anoxic electrode-driven fructose catabolism of Pseudomonas putida KT2440
Microb. Biotechnol. 14 (4), 1784 - 1796 10.1111/1751-7915.13862
2020 (3)
- Kadier, A., Jain, P., Lai, B., Kalil, M.S., Kondaveeti, S., Alabbosh, K.F.S., Abu-Reesh, I.M., Mohanakrishna, G. (2020):
Biorefinery perspectives of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) for hydrogen and valuable chemicals production through wastewater treatment
Biofuel Res. J. 25 , 1128 - 1142 10.18331/BRJ2020.7.1.5 - Lai, B., Bernhardt, P.V., Krömer, J.O. (2020):
Cytochrome c reductase is a key enzyme involved in the extracellular electron transfer pathway towards transition metal complexes in Pseudomonas putida
ChemSusChem 13 (19), 5308 - 5317 10.1002/cssc.202001645 - Lai, B., Krömer, J.O. (2020):
Steering redox metabolism in Pseudomonas putida with microbial electrochemical technologies
In: Tiquia-Arashiro, S.M., Pant, D. (eds.)
Microbial Electrochemical Technologies
CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, p. 59 - 75 10.1201/9780429487118
2019 (3)
- Cui, Y., Lai, B., Tang, X. (2019):
Microbial fuel cell-based biosensors
Biosensors 9 (3), art. 92 10.3390/bios9030092 - Lai, B., Nguyen, A.V., Krömer, J.O. (2019):
Characterizing the anoxic phenotype of Pseudomonas putida using a bioelectrochemical system
Methods Protoc. 2 (2), art. 26 10.3390/mps2020026 - Tschörtner, J., Lai, B., Krömer, J.O. (2019):
Biophotovoltaics: green power generation from sunlight and water
Front. Microbiol. 10 , art. 866 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00866
2018 (2)
- Kracke, F., Lai, B., Yu, S., Krömer, J.O. (2018):
Balancing cellular redox metabolism in microbial electrosynthesis and electro fermentation – A chance for metabolic engineering
Metab. Eng. 45 , 109 - 120 10.1016/j.ymben.2017.12.003 - Yu, S., Lai, B., Plan, M.R., Hodson, M.P., Lestari, E.A., Song, H., Krömer, J.O. (2018):
Improved performance of Pseudomonas putida in a bioelectrochemical system through overexpression of periplasmic glucose dehydrogenase
Biotechnol. Bioeng. 115 (1), 145 - 155 10.1002/bit.26433
2016
- Lai B., Manuel R. Plan, Nils J.H. Averesch, et al. (2016)
Quantitative analysis of aromatics for synthetic biology using liquid chromatography.
Biotechnology Journal. 2017 12(1)
- Lai B., Plan M.R., Hodson M.P., and Krömer J. O. (2016)
Simultaneous determination of sugars, carboxylates,alcohols and aldehydes from fermentations by high performance liquid chromatography.
Fermentation, 2(1): 6
- Lai B., Yu S., Bernhardt P.Y., et al. (2016)
Anoxic metabolism and biochemical production in Pseudomonas putida F1 driven by a bioelectrochemical system.
Biotechnology for Biofuels, 9: 39.
2013
- Wang P., Lai B., Li H. and Du Z.(2013)
Deposition of Fe on graphite felt by thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)5 for effective cathodic preparation of microbial fuel cells.
Bioresource Technology, 134: 30-35.
- Lai B., Wang P., Li H., et al. (2013)
Calcined polyaniline–iron composite as a high efficient cathodic catalyst in microbial fuel cells.
Bioresource Technology, 131: 321-324.
2011
- Lai B., Liu X. and Li H. (2011)
Mechanism of microbial dissimilatory reduction marine nodules.
Journal of Central South University of Technology (Science and Technology), 42(2): 356-360.
- Lai B., Tang X., Li H., et al. (2011)
Power production enhancement with a polyaniline modified anode in microbial fuel cells.
Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 28(1): 373-377.
- Li H., Liu X., Ma Y. and Lai B. (2011)
Development status of carbonyl nickel production technology.
Fenmo Yejin Jishu/Powder Metallurgy Technology, 29(4):290-295.
2009
- Yang Z.-H., Zeng R., Li X.-K., Lv Z.-S., Lai B., et al. (2009)
Tolerance of Immobilized Yeast Cells in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids.
Food Technology and Biotechnology, 47(1):62-66.
2008
- Yang Z.-H., Zeng R.,Yang G., Wang Y., Li L.-Z., Lv Z.-S., Yao M. and Lai B. (2008)
Asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones to chiral alcohols catalyzed by plants tissue.
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 35(9) 1047-1051.
- Invited talk: Bin Lai. The electro-biotechnology for biosynthesis of chemicals and fuels. The Biochemical Colloquium, Insitute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Germany, Jan 23, 2024
- Bin Lai, Hans Schneider, Maximillian Feußner, Jens Krömer. The Biophotovoltaics for biohydrogen production using sunlight and water. Metabolic Engineering 15 conference, Singapore, June 11-14, 2023
- Invited talk: Bin Lai. The Biophotovoltaics for white hydrogen production. 2022 WS series “Life Science Meets Engineering”, Association of German Engineers (VDI)/University of Hannover, Germany, Nov. 11, 2022
- Bin Lai, Hans Schneider, Maximillian Feußner, Jens Krömer. The Biophotovoltaics for biohydrogen production using sunlight and water. The 8th International conference-International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology (ISMET8), Chania, Crete, Greece, Sep.19-23, 2022
- Invited talk: Bin Lai. Biophotovoltaics for biohydrogen production. MIKAT workshop oh photobiotechnology III: products, perspectives and technologies. Leipzig, Germany, Dec.13-14, 2021 (online)
- Bin Lai, Hans Schneider, Maximillian Feußner, Andreas Schmid, Jens O. Krömer. Biophotovoltaics for hydrogen production using cyanobacteria. 5th European Meeting-International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology (EU-ISMET5), Girona, Spain, Sep.13-15, 2021 (online)
- Bin Lai. Systems electro-biotechnology: balancing electrons with electrode for biosynthesis process. 31st Annual meeting for Chinese-German Chemical Association, Leipzig, Germany, May 9-12, 2019.
- nvited talk: Bin Lai. Anode-driven biochemical production with Pseudomonas putida. Kick-off symposium of PhD College STROMER, UFZ-Leipzig, Germany, Sep. 21, 2018
- Bin Lai, Jens Krömer. Pseudomonas putida as anodic platform for targeted and controllable biochemical production. 4th European Meeting-International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology (EU-ISMET4), Newcastle, United Kingdom, Sep. 12-14, 2018
- Invited talk: Bin Lai. When microorganism meets electricity: microbial electrochemical technique and systems biology. 2018 East-Forum of Chinese-German Chemical Association (CGCA), Leipzig, Germany, Mar. 11, 2018
Book Chapter
2022
- Hans Schneider, Bin Lai, Jens O. Krömer (2022). Utilizing cyanobacteria in Biophotovoltaics -- an emerging field in Bioelectrochemistry. In: Katja Bühler and Pia Lindgerg (Eds.) Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, volume 10 “Cyanobacteria in Biotechnology: Applications and Quantitative Perspectives”. Springer, Berlin, Germany.
2019
- Bin Lai, Jens O. Krömer (2019). Steering redox metabolism in P. putida with microbial electrochemical technologies. In: Sonia M. Tiquia-Arashiro and Deepak Pant (Eds.) Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (pp 59-75). Boca Raton, Florida, the United States, CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group)
2018
- Abudukeremu Kadier, Yong Jiang, Bin Lai, Pankaj Kumar Rai, Kuppam Chandrasekhar, Azah Mohamed, Mohd Sahaid Kalil (2018)
Biohydrogen production in Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) from renewable resources.
In: Bioenergy and Biofuels. Konur, O. Eds; CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group)
Patents
2017
- Bin Lai, Yafeng Liu, Shuguang Dong, Hao Jin, Kangping Chen.
A photovoltaic modules and photovoltaic power plant system.
China Patent CN104426475B, Issued March 8th, 2017
2016
- Bin Lai, Yafeng Liu, Hao Jin, Kangping Chen, Gendre Le.
A solar cell photovoltaic modules.
China Patent CN103022171B, Issued May 4th, 2016.
2015
- Haoran Li, Peng Wang, Bin Lai.
Device and method for preparing iron-carbon composite electrode material by carbonyl iron deposition.
China Patent CN103066303B, Issued July 1st, 2015
2024.09 - 2026.06
Funding Agency: EU-Förderung Just Transition Fund (JTF) in Sachsen 2021 - 2027
Grant Number: 100702610 (BISON: Biohybrides Sonnenkraftwerk zur Umwandlung von Licht in Chemische Energie – nachhaltig, effizient, ressourcenschonend)
Budget: c.a. 3M €
co-PI: Dr. Bin Lai (WP5 leader)
2023.07
Funding Agency: Chinesisch-Deutsches Zentrum für Wissenschaftsförderung;
Grant number: GT 1725;
Budget: 2245 €
PI: Dr. Bin Lai
2022.08 - 2027.07
Funding Agency: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF);
Grant number: 031B1273 (BioPV4H2: biophotovoltaics for biohydrogen production from water, carbon dioxide and sunlight)
Budget: 2.910.350,31 €
PI: Dr. Bin Lai