Prof. Dr. Yan Xu is a leading scientist in traditional solid-state fermentation research. In addition to his full professorship in food biotechnology, he is the chairman of Centre for Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology at Jiangnan University (Wuxi, China) and deputy rector of the same university. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed papers and written several book chapters on relevant topics. He is now Editor in Chief of Systems Microbiology and Biomanufacturing with Prof Dr. Ashok Pandey from CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research. Overseas academic experience Researcher fellow, Dept. of Food Science &Technology, Oregon State University, USA (2005.1~2005.7) Visiting Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan (2001~2002) Researcher, Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Tokyo, Japan (1991~1992) Professional experience Professor of Fermentation Biotechnology (2002~) Deputy rector (2010~2022) Director of Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, China (2004~) Dean of School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University (2002-2007) Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Wuxi University of Light Industry (1997-2002)