Chai Jijie, born in 1966 in Liaoning, is currently a chair professor of plant immunology at the School of Life Sciences, Westlake University. He was a non-academic scientist who worked in a paper mill before moving into biology and achieving remarkable scientific results.
Chai Jijie's research focuses on the field of plant immunity, especially in the discovery and functional elucidation of disease-resistant bodies.
Personal Experience:
In 1987, Chai Jijie received a bachelor's degree from Dalian Institute of Light Industry.
In 1994, he obtained a master's degree from the Research Institute of Petrochemical Engineering.
In 1997, he received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Peking Union Medical College.
From 1997 to 2004, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Princeton University.
From 2009 to 2023, he was a professor at the School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University.
In August 2023, he was hired as a chair professor of plant immunology in the School of Life Sciences, Westlake University.
Social Appointments:
Chair Professor of Plant Immunology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University.
The first scientist in Chinese mainland to win the Alexander von Humboldt Chair Award in Germany.
Main Achievements:
The discovery of disease-resistant bodies and the elucidation of their structure and function in resistance to plant pests and diseases is considered a milestone event in the field of plant immunology research.
He has published several articles in the journal Science on plant immunity.
Awards:
In 2023, he and Zhou Jianmin jointly won the "Life Science Prize" of the Future Science Prize.
In 2017, he was awarded the Humboldt Chair Award in Germany with a grant of 5 million euros.
Social Contribution:
Chai Jijie's research can help reduce the use of chemical pesticides, which is of great significance for global food security.
His research has enhanced China's international presence in the field of plant immunology research.
Character evaluation:
Chai Jijie is considered to be "the top scientist who came out of the paper mill", and his scientific research path is full of legends.
Driven by curiosity and interest, he has persevered in his scientific work, demonstrating a high level of professionalism and perseverance.
Chai Jijie's rigorous scholarship and persistent pursuit of scientific research have inspired generations of scientific research workers.