New head of Life Science Engineering and Informatics

Associate Professor Ling Ding from the Technical University of Denmark has taken up the position as Head of Educational Programme for Life Science Engineering and Informatics at SDC. Ling Ding takes over the role from her colleague Associate Professor, Paolo Marcatili.

‘I am very excited about the collaboration between China and Denmark, and with my academic background and network I believe I can help strengthen the collaboration and develop the Life Science Engineering and Informatics programme,’ says Ling Ding.

Neither the partner universities nor the academic content of the Master’s degree programme is new to Ling Ding. She holds a PhD degree from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and carried out a joint PhD project in collaboration between the Oceanology Institute, CAS and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen in Germany.

‘I know from my personal experience that students can benefit from joining an international education. When you move and enter a new environment, there is no doubt you will get more inspiration. It goes for both students and researchers. You can develop yourself better, create new ideas and gain a valuable network when you work and interact with people from different cultural background,’ says Ling Ding.

Research combining biology and chemistry

Research wise Ling Ding works at the interface of biology and chemistry, and currently she focuses on discovering bioactive small compounds combining various omics technologies. She is driven by the opportunity to improve human health and living environment and work in direction of among other things the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

‘Right now I am working on the bioactive microbes living in soil. We isolate soil bacteria and mine their genomes to check the genetic potential of producing interesting secondary metabolites. Metabolomics data will provide information on which kinds of chemicals are produced. Meanwhile, we adopt genetic tools to enhance the production of bioactive molecules. All with the purpose of discovering talented microbes and developing new drugs leading to benefit human health and agriculture,’ Ling Ding explains and emphasizes that her research area in many ways is linked to the programme.