Dr. Chen earned her MS in Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science and PhD in Biosystems Engineering at Clemson University. After that, Dr. Chen worked on a variety of projects as a researcher and a principal investigator for the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB) and the Industry Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan. Currently, she is an associate professor and department chair of the Food Science Dept. at National Ilan University, Taiwan. 

For sustainable development, Dr. Chen’s research team aims to investigate the feasibility of microbial fermentation by using agricultural or food processing byproducts for nutraceutical (PUFA, astaxanthin, torulene, and torularhodin) production with the biorefinery concept. Her research focuses on finding optimal raw material hydrolysis conditions, strain adaption methods, and suitable cultivation strategies for building a bioprocess model. Dr. Chen obtained several grants from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Council of Agriculture (Now Ministry of Agriculture), and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), and collaborated with bioenergy, biotech, and food processing companies. 

Several research aspects are focused in the Lab: (1) bioconversion and biorefinery technology – strain development and applying microbial fermentation to produce high-value nutraceuticals and biofuel using agricultural waste or by-products with the biorefinery concept; (2) food processing and preservation technologies - developing and validating of practical strategies to preserve biochemicals, such as microencapsulation; (3) down-stream separation technology - assisted-extraction/supercritical fluid technology; (4) bioprocess modeling – simulation/optimization of bioprocess and kinetics of microbial growth. We welcome researchers and students to join us from various backgrounds and countries to make the lab an international hub.