Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. May 1995. Rutgers University.
M.S. in Biochemistry and Enzymology. July 1988. Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
B.S. in Biochemistry. July 1985. Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
After obtained his Ph.D, in 1995, Dr. Yong Tao joined in Dr. Robert Roeder’s laboratory at The Rockefeller University as a post-doctoral associate and fellow for various projects of eukaryotic gene transcriptional regulation. Yong joined DuPont Crop Protection Products in 1997 and made key contributions to developing high throughput screening capabilities in the Chemical Genomics group. Most notably, he was the lead molecular biologist on the project team that supported the development of the Rynaxypyr and Cyazypyr Insecticides. He transferred to the DuPont Central Research Department in 2008, where he applied his molecular biology skills to two biocatalyst development programs. Yong received accomplishment awards both from DuPont Crop Protection and from DuPont Central R&D for his outstanding and cutting-edge research. Yong have 9 granted patents with a few more pending at DuPont. In 2010, He joined the Institute of Microbiology, CAS as a Principal Investigator. 2010-2013, he was professor and director in department of industrial microbiology and biotechnology, IMCAS. Since 2013, he is professor of CAS key laboratory of microbial physiological and metabolic engineering and R&D Director in Technology Transfer Center, IMCAS. Currently, he is member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Biological Engineering.

Research Area：
Biocatalyst development via metabolic engineering
Research Interests：
Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Biocatalyst Development
1. Synthetic biologic parts development and its application in metabolic engineering.
2. Whole-cell biocatalyst development via metabolic engineering.
3. High-throughput, systematic platform of recombinant protein expression.

Accomplishment Award for Biobutanol Program, DuPont Central R&D, 2009
R&D Division Team Accomplishment Award DuPont Crop Products, 2007
R&D Team Accomplishment Award for Development of a High-Throughput Screen for functional GN Receptors (2003)

Selective publications:
[1] Lin BX, Zhang ZJ, Liu WF, Dong ZY, Tao Y*. (2013) Enhanced production of N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid by multi-approach whole-cell biocatalyst. Applied microbiology and biotechnology 97: 4775-84.
[2] Tao Y, Gutteridge S, Benner EA, Wu L, Rhoades DF, Sacher MD, Rivera MA, Desaeger J, Cordova D. (2013) Identification of a critical region in the Drosophila ryanodine receptor that confers sensitivity to diamide insecticides. Insect biochemistry and molecular biology 43: 820-8.
[3] Tao, Y., Cheng, Q., Kopatsis, A.D. (2012) Metabolic engineering for acetate control in large scale fermentation. Methods Mol Biol. 834:283-303.
[4] Wu, C.F., Xu, Y., TAO, Y. and Yang, J.Y. (2009) Establishment of a hypoglycemic agents screening method based on Human glucokinase. Biomedical and Environmental Science 22:62-69.
[5] Wu, J., TAO, Y., Zhang, M., Howard, M.H., Gutteridge, S. and Ding, J. (2007). Crystal structures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae N-myristoyltransferase with bound myristoyl-CoA and inhibitors reveal the functional roles of the N-terminal region. Journal of Biological Chemistry 282:22185-94.
[6] Cordova, D., Benner, E.A., Sacher, M.D., Rauh, J.J., Sopa, J.S., Lahm, G.H., Selby, T.P., Stevenson, T.M., Flexner, L., Caspar, T., Ragghianti, J.J., Gutteridge, S., Rhoades, D.F., Wu, L., Smith, R.M. and TAO, Y. (2007) Elucidation of the Mode of Action of RynaxypyrTM, a Selective Ryanodine Receptor Activator. Pesticide Chemistry Book Chapter.
[7] Gutteridge, S., Pember, S.O., Wu, L., TAO, Y. and Walker M. (2005) Fungal Site of Action Determination: Integration with High-Volume Screening and Lead Progression. American Chemical Society Symposium Series, Honolulu, HI. Chapter 12 (Third Pan Pacific Conference on Pesticide Science), Book Chapter.
[8] Guermah, M, TAO, Y., Roeder RG. (2001). Positive and Negative TAF(II) Functions That Suggest a Dynamic TFIID Structure and Elicit Synergy with Traps in Activator-induced Transcription. Mol Cell Biol. 21(20): 6882-94.
[9] Zheng, Y.J., TAO, Y., Zhang, W., and Jordan D. B. (2001) Inhibition of Fungal Aldose Reductase. Protein and Peptide Letter. 8(5): 407-412.
[10] TAO, Y.*, Xiao, H*, and Roeder, R.G. (1999). The Human Homologue of Drosophila TRF-proximal Protein Is Associated with an RNA polymerase II-SRB Complex. Journal of Biological Chemistry 274: 3937-3940.
[11] Xiao, H., TAO, Y., Greenblatt, J. and Roeder, R.G. (1998) A Cofactor, TIP30, Specifically Enhances HIV-1 Tat-activated Transcription. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95(5): 2146-2151.
[12] Oelgeschlager, T., TAO, Y., Kang, Y.K., Roeder, R.G. (1998) Transcription Activation via Enhanced Preinitiation Complex assembly in a Human Cell-free System Lacking TAFIIs. Molecular Cell 1(6): 925-931.
[13]TAO, Y., Guermah, M., Martinez, E., Oelgeschl？ger, T., Hasegawa, S., Takada, R., Yamamoto, T., Horikoshi, M. and Roeder, R.G. (1997) Specific Interactions and Potential Functions of Human TAFII100. Journal of Biological Chemistry 270: 23984-23987.
[14]TAO, Y. and Chen, K.Y. (1995) Purification of Deoxyhypusine Synthase from Neurospora crass to Homogeneity by Substrate Elution Affinity Chromatography. Journal of Biological Chemistry 270: 383-386.
[15]TAO, Y. and Chen, K.Y. (1995) Molecular Cloning and Functional _Expression of Neurospora Deoxyhypusine Synthase cDNA and Identification of Yeast Deoxyhypusine Synthase cDNA. Journal of Biological Chemistry 270: 23984-23987.
[16]TAO, Y., Yan, Z. and Zhang, S. (1992) Catalytic Properties of ？-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Asp. tamarii. Acta Microbiologica Sinica. 32(6): 405-411.
[17]TAO, Y. (1991) Nisin and its Application. Food Science of China 134: 53-57.
Patents:
1.Metabolically Engineered Escherichia coli for Enhanced Production of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid. China Patent No: 201110322297.X
2.Gene encoding a novel N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid aldolase (nanA) and its application. China Patent No: 201110322023.0
3.Gene encoding N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid aldolase (nanA) from Shigella dysenteriae and its application. China Patent No: 201210187021.X
4.Gene encoding N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid aldolase (nanA) from Pediococcus acidilactici and its application. China Patent No: 201210186931.6
11 issued patents at DuPont Company.