{title:`Meet the Team`,anchor:`TeamList`,placeholder:null,icon:{src:`/en-us/-/media/nebus/page-images/research-labs/menu-icons/research_icon_team.svg?rev=73efe93f0bba49709f657e78215ed5b0&hash=F698DC7DB644D50105D8C2F7E411E0DA`,alt:`Research_Icon_Team`},teamList:[{memberDescription:`Minyong began his journey at New England Biolabs (NEB) in 2013 as a research scientist, specializing in protein expression and engineering, as well as the discovery and development of glycoenzymes. His scientific career spans diverse research areas across prestigious institutions. At Peking University, he explored ballistic transformation techniques to generate transgenic rice as a master's student. During his PhD at The Ohio State University, he made a key contribution to the discovery of YidC as a novel protein translocase. Following this, he delved into G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways during his time as a postdoctoral fellow at HHMI and research associate at Duke University Medical Center.
In 2023, Minyong established the Chen Lab at NEB, aiming to revolutionize protein discovery and engineering through the development of an ultra-high-throughput microdroplet screening system. His lab also studies the biochemistry and engineering of DNA cytosine deaminases, further expanding NEB's expertise in cutting-edge research.
Favorite science moment – Discovery of PaqCI, a type IIS restriction enzyme that recognizes 7bp sequence and leaves 4 nt overhang, and winning the NEB Innovation Award in 2018 for the invention of Thermolabile Proteinase K.
`,memberName:`Minyong Chen`,memberTitle:`Principal Investigator`,mediaSrc:`/en-us/-/media/nebus/page-images/research-labs/chen-lab/employees/minyong_chen.jpg?rev=f0806cca001545ed8c55a15b888c071b&sc_lang=en-us&hash=473A5E2C4C2A980C97F87529A63F06A2`,memberEducation:`B.S., Wuhan University, China, 1994
M.S., Peking University, China, 1997
Ph.D., Ohio State University, USA, 2002
`,memberLink:{text:`linkedin.com/in/minyong-chen`,url:`https://www.linkedin.com/in/minyong-chen-61302a6/`,target:`_blank`}},{memberDescription:`Joan joined NEB as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Chen lab in 2023, where he is developing microfluidic-based high-throughput methods for enzyme discovery and protein evolution, with a focus on glycoenzymes and other protein post-translational modifications. His prior research focused on unraveling protein glycosylation pathways using high-throughput functional genetics in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. He also developed in vitro protein expression systems to interrogate local protein translation within the secretory pathway. At NEB, Joan combines his passion for protein expression and novel high-throughput methodologies.
After living in several European countries, he currently resides in Ipswich, Massachusetts, with his dog, Muddy.
`,memberName:`Joan Castells Ballester`,memberTitle:`Postdoctoral Fellow`,mediaSrc:`/en-us/-/media/nebus/page-images/research-labs/chen-lab/employees/joan_castells.jpg?rev=9f8e6c172f3740f792fd777e5016fd32&sc_lang=en-us&hash=D6DDCF466F863D3CF5144D29FB00DA0A`,memberEducation:`B.S. and MSc, Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Spain, 2013
Ph.D. Heidelberg University, Germany, 2019
`,memberLink:{text:`www.linkedin.com/in/joan-castells-ballester`,url:`https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-castells-ballester-4625245a/`,target:`_blank`}},{memberDescription:`Madison joined NEB as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the summer of 2024 to work on the biochemical and structural characterization, and eventual protein engineering, of DNA deaminases.
Madison began her research at Loyola University Chicago utilizing anaerobic transient state kinetic assays to tease out the chemical mechanism of several flavoproteins. This included the study of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, thioredoxin glutathione reductase, and several enzymes within the riboflavin biosynthetic pathway.
Though originally from Columbus, OH, Madison lived in Chicago for nine years and roots for the Bears every Sunday. She currently lives in Revere, MA with her cat, Joan Jett.
Favorite Science Moment – Accidentally discovered a novel conformationally activated pyrophosphatase activity by adding the wrong substrate.
`,memberName:`Madison Smith`,memberTitle:`Postdoctoral Fellow`,mediaSrc:`/en-us/-/media/nebus/page-images/research-labs/chen-lab/employees/madison_smith.jpg?rev=2206530866d04b16a447f61487a71411&sc_lang=en-us&hash=5A53C35EC2CEC80AE524DB3D0E956DBC`,memberEducation:`B.S., Loyola University Chicago, USA, 2019
Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago, USA, 2024
`,memberLink:{text:`linkedin.com/in/madison-smith`,url:`https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-smith-8a3860173/`,target:`_blank`}}],moreLink:{text:`Meet the Team & Alumni`,url:`/en-us/research-labs/chen-lab/meet-the-team`,target:null}}

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