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Employment

• 2025-present Assistant Professor,  Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

• 2022-2025. Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark

• 2018-2022. Postdoc,  Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark

Education

2012-2017. PhD, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Science, China
2008 – 2012. BSc. Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China.

Research Areas

Legume-rhizobial symbiosis, plant genetics, cell biology.

Research interest

My lab focuses on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as a sustainable solution to enhance plant productivity while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers. Using legume species as model systems, we investigate the genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate root nodule development and nitrogen fixation. Our research aims to improve nitrogen-fixing efficiency and ensure its stability under varying environmental conditions, including high temperatures and nutrient limitations.

By integrating plant genetics, molecular biology, cellular biology, and plant physiology, we explore key regulatory pathways that control symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We seek to identify genetic targets that enhance nodule development and function, ultimately contributing to climate-resilient and efficient BNF systems. Our work has broad implications for sustainable agriculture, soil health, and global food security, providing insights into how legumes can be optimised for improved nitrogen assimilation in changing environments.

Highlighted publications

1. Lin JS^#*, Bjørk PK^#, Kolte MV, Poulsen E, Dedic E, Drace T, Andersen SU, Boesen T, Pedersen JK, Stougaard J, Andersen KR^*, and Reid D^*. Zinc mediates environmental control of nitrogen fixation via filamentation of the FUN transcription factor (2024). Nature 631, 164–169. ^*:co-corresponding authors. ^#: co-first author.

2. Lin JS, Li X, Luo Z, Mysore K.S, Wen JQ and Xie F. (2018). NIN interacts with NLPs to mediate nitrate inhibition of nodulation in Medicago truncatula. Nat Plants 4:942–952.

3.   Liu H^#, Lin JS^#, Luo Z^#, Sun J^#, Huang X^#, Yang Y, Xu J, Wang YF, Zhang P, Oldyord G, Xie F. (2022). Constitutive activation of a nuclear-localized calcium channel complex in Medicago truncatula. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 119 (34) e2205920119. ^#: co-first author.

4. Lin JS, Roswanjaya YP, Kohlen W, Stougaard J and Reid D. (2021). Nitrate restricts nodule organogenesis through inhibition of cytokinin biosynthesis in Lotus japonicus. Nat Commun 12, 6544 (2021).

5. Luo Z^#, Lin JS^#, Zhu Y, Fu M, Li X, and Xie F. (2021). NLP1 reciprocally regulates nitrate inhibition of nodulation through SUNN-CRA2 signalling in Medicago truncatula. Plant Commun 2:100183. ^#:co-first authors.

Other publications:

1. Qiao L, Lin JS, Suzaki T. & Liang P. Staying hungry: a roadmap to harnessing central regulators of symbiotic nitrogen fixation under fluctuating nitrogen availability. Abiotech (2023) doi:10.1007/s42994-023-00123-7.

2. Chen Y, Liu J, Lin JS, Roswanjaya YP, Nadzieja M, Buron F, Kohlen W, Geisler M, Stougaard J, and Reid D. (2022). Cytokinin synthesis and export from symbiotic root nodules coordinates shoot growth with nitrogen fixation. bioRxiv: 2022.12.03.518951.

3. Lin JS ^#, Frank M^# and Reid D. (2020). No Home without Hormones: How Plant Hormones Control Legume Nodule Organogenesis. Plant Commun 1:100104. ^#:co- first authors.

4. Kamal N, Mun T, Reid D, Lin JS, Akyol TY, Sandal N, Asp T, Hirakawa H, Stougaard J, Mayer KFX, Andersen SU. (2020). Insights into the evolution of symbiosis gene copy number and distribution from a chromosome-scale Lotus japonicus Gifu genome sequence. DNA Res. 27.

5. Qiu L, Lin JS, Xu J, Sato, S, Parniske M, Wang TL, Downie JA, Xie F. (2015). SCARN a Novel Class of SCAR Protein That Is Required for Root-Hair Infection during Legume Nodulation. PLoS Genet. 11:e1005623.

Patent:

Jieshun, LIN, Bjørk P, Jensen JS, Andersen KR. & Reid D. Enhancing nitrogen fixation with fun. (2024). US patent.