Shuke Wu is a full professor at the College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), China. He obtained his B.S. in Biotechnology from Peking University and his Ph.D. in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering from the National University of Singapore, under the supervision of Prof. Zhi Li and Prof. Daniel Wang (MIT). He then moved to Europe as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Basel with Prof. Thomas Ward, and later as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow with Prof. Uwe Bornscheuer. His research interests include biocatalysis, enzyme engineering, (chemo-)enzymatic cascades, and synthetic biology. Personal academic links: 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KDE8huoAAAAJ&hl=en 

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shuke-Wu 

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0914-9277 

Profile on AngewChem: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/anie.202319551 

Group Recruitment: 

International PhD students: with a MS/Mphil degree and strong background in biology (biochemistry/microbiology/genetic engineering), bioinformatics (structure-based) or related fields, and interested in industrial biotechnology. Many scholarship opportunities (China CSC/HZAU) are available for PhD students (2500-3500 RMB/month, free tuition and accommodation). Because our department does not have international Master program, I cannot accept international MS students. Very welcome quick learning and hard working PhD students from around the world!   

International Postdocs: with a PhD degree and background in biocatalysis, enzyme engineering, structure-based bioinformatics, metabolic engineering etc. Many funding opportunities are available for international postdocs (~10-20k RMB/month).  

Co-PI/Associate Professor: with a PhD degree and Postdoc experience in biocatalysis, enzyme engineering, structure-based bioinformatics, metabolic engineering etc. Many start-up funding opportunities are available. Co-PI can supervise MS students and co-supervise (international) PhD students.

Welcome to contact Shuke with your CV and cover letter! 

Group News: 

2026-08: Our paper on Enzyme Cascades to Chiral Drug Levosalbutamol was published on ACS Catal. and selected as Cover. Congratulations! 

T. Chen, S. Wen, Y. Zhou, B. Li, X. Wang, U. T. Bornscheuer, S. Wu. A concise enzyme cascade for the synthesis of enantiopure levosalbutamol. ACS Catal. 2026, 16, 15816-15828. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.6c03032 

2026-07: Our paper on Photo-Enzyme Cascades to Natural Flavor 4-Ethylphenol was published on J. Agric. Food Chem. and selected as Cover. Congratulations! 

Z. Xu, Z. Qin, S. Wen, Y. Wu, T. Chen, Y. Zhou, S. Wu. Biosynthesis of 4-ethylphenol via an enzyme cascade with an engineered fatty acid photodecarboxylase. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2026, 74, 22942-22951. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c13382  

2026-06: Our review on Amino Acid Oxidases was published on Bioresour. Technol. Congratulations! 

M. Israr, F. Basheer, Y. Zhou, M. Zeeshan, F. Ali, S. Wu. Recent advances in protein engineering and synthetic applications of amino acid oxidases. Bioresour. Technol. 2026, 459, 135229.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2026.135229 

2026-06: The 2026 batch of students successfully defended their MS theses and got a good job. Congratulations! 

2026-05: Our paper on Enzyme Cascades to Precursors of Natural Pesticide Chrysanthemol and Chrysanthemic Acid was published on Green Chem. and selected as Cover. Congratulations! 

Z. Liao, C. Chen, L. Lu, D. Du, H. Teng, Y. Zhou, S. Wu. An enzyme cascade for green synthesis of chrysanthemol and chrysanthemic acid: key precursors for pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Green Chem. 2026, 28, 9983-9995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D6GC01398H 

2026-04: Our review with Prof. Bornscheuer on Enzyme Cascades was published, Congratulations! 

Y. Zhou, S. Peng, U. T. Bornscheuer, S. Wu. Recent advances in enzyme cascade reactions for the efficient synthesis of functionalized chemicals and complex pharmaceuticals. Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2026, 92, 102687.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2026.102687 

2025-09: Welcome new PhD and MS students (including 1 international PhD student Fiza) to join the group!

2025-06: The 2025 batch of students successfully defended their MS theses and got a good job. Congratulations! 

2025-04: The updated review about enzymatic synthesis was published: 

T. Bayer, S. Wu, R. Snajdrova, K. Baldenius, U. T. Bornscheuer. An Update: Enzymatic Synthesis for Industrial Applications. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202505976. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202505976  

2025-03: Our review with Prof. Bornscheuer on AI for enzyme design was published. Congratulations! 

S. Wen, W. Zheng, U. T. Bornscheuer, S. Wu. Generative artificial intelligence for enzyme design: recent advances in models and applications. Curr. Opin. Green Sustain. Chem. 2025, 52, 101010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2025.101010 

2025-02: Our review with Prof. Padhi on Amino Acid Transferase was published. Congratulations! 

M. Israr, S. K. Padhi, Y. Zhou, S. Wu. Recent Advances in Protein Engineering and Synthetic Applications of Amino Acid Transaminase. ChemCatChem 2025, 17, e202401952. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202401952

2024-09: Two projects Prof. Wu participated were published on Nature Synthesis https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-024-00575-9 and Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52613-x

2024-09: Welcome new PhD and MS students (including international PhD student Zeeshan) to join the group!! 

2024-08: Dr. Israr's NSFC RFIS-I grant application was approved! Congratulations! 

2024-05: Welcome Dr. Israr join our group as the 1st Postdoc!  

2024-06: The 2024 batch of students successfully defended their MS theses and got a good job/PhD position. Congratulations!! 

2024-04: The project on Directed Evolution and Immobilization of ADH was published, Congratulations!

G. Su, L. Ran, C. Liu, Z. Qin, H. Teng, S. Wu. Directed Evolution and Immobilization of Lactobacillus brevis Alcohol Dehydrogenase for Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis of Rivastigmine. Chem. Eur. J. 2024, e202400454. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202400454

2023-11: The first student-based project on Enzyme Cascade to Produce Ethylbenzene was published on Angew. Chem. (IF 16.6). Congratulations! 

Z. Qin, Y. Zhou, Z. Li, M. Höhne, U. T. Bornscheuer, S. Wu. Production of Biobased Ethylbenzene by Cascade Biocatalysis with an Engineered Photodecarboxylase. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202314566. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202314566

2022-12: Our collaboration with the Bornscheuer group on Growth Selection for Directed Evolution of Amine Enzymes was published on Nat. Commun. (IF 16.6). Congratulations!! 

S. Wu, C. Xiang, Y. Zhou, M. S. H. Khan, W. Liu, C. G. Feiler, R. Wei, G. Weber, M. Höhne, U. T. Bornscheuer. A growth selection system for the directed evolution of amine-forming or converting enzymes. Nat. Commun. 2022, 13, 7458. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35228-y