Congratulations to Jerry Wei for being selected for the 2022 MilliporeSigma Fellowship

Lianjie “Jerry” Wei is a third-year graduate student in the Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology (BBSB) program. He is currently working in the Laboratory of Dr. Natalie Niemi in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics to complete his Ph.D. studies. His research is focused on understanding how protein post-translational modifications regulate mitochondrial organellar homeostasis.

Prior to joining BBSB, Jerry completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. During his undergraduate studies, Jerry conducted research in the structural-function relationship of a class of gut microbial enzymes and in eukaryotic membrane protein quality control.

In the laboratory of Dr. Natalie Niemi, Jerry has been studying how phosphorylation impact the stability of mitophagy receptors BNIP3 and BNIP3L/NIX and consequently promotes BNIP3- and NIX-mediated mitophagy. Utilizing a combination of biochemical and cell-based assays, Jerry hopes to unravel the regulatory network for BNIP3 and NIX protein turnover.

Jerry currently serves on the WUSTL Biochemistry and Biophysics Community Committee. Jerry is also serving as a co-Chair for the BBSB Graduate Student Committee to better the student experience in the BBSB program.