Members
He 'Andrew' Fu, PhD, Principal Investigator
Dr. Fu is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He began his higher education journey at Wuhan University, where he earned his B.S. degree, followed by an M.S. degree from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His pursuit of knowledge led him to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he completed his Ph.D. in Microbiology in 2017.
Post-Ph.D., Dr. Fu engaged in postdoctoral research, first collaborating with Mary Ann Moran on microbial communities living around phytoplankton from 2017 to 2021, and subsequently with Elizabeth Ottesen on cockroaches gut microbiome at the University of Georgia from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, he joined North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University as a tenure-track Assistant Professor.
In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Fu has a side gig translating science books from English to Chinese. So far, He has published 10 books, bridging linguistic barriers in scientific communication and bring scientific knowledge accessible to a broader audience.
Wasilat Taiwo Balogun
Wasilat is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Applied Science and Technology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT). she completed her B.Sc. In Microbiology at Osun State University, graduating with honors in 2022. As a B.Sc. Student in Microbiology, she has broad knowledge in microbial culturing and molecular biology techniques. Her dissertation focuses on investigating the impact of climate change on microbial communities.
In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and dancing.
Mawada Emhali
Mawada is pursuing a Master's degree at the Department of Biology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT). Before that, she had a Bachelor's in Veterinary Medicine and a Master's in Biochemistry from Khartoum University, Sudan. With the extensive experiences in molecular biology, biochemistry and analytical chemistry, she is excited to join Dr. Fu's lab to work on environmental microbiology and learn more about microbial communities.
In her free time, she enjoys walking, reading novels, and working with her sewing machine.
Freddie Fu
[Emotional Support Leader]
Freddie, born on April 2nd, 2019, was adopted by the Fu family in the following September. He is a cheerful boy, brimming with curiosity about nature. His interests include observing the birds and squirrels roaming outdoors, as well as chasing insects that find their way into our house. When not sleeping or frolicking, he is a skilled masseur and enthusiast of fine cuisine.
Join the team
We are looking for motivated graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in environmental microbiology/microbial ecology. Student researchers will receive extensive training in problem-solving and story-telling skills while working with microbes.
If you are interested in learning about research opportunities, contact me via email to set up a meeting. Interested PhD students must apply through the Applied Science & Technology (AST) PhD Program. More information on admission to the program can be found here.