JIALIN HU
College Station,TX
Summary
Accomplished microbiome scientist with a PhD in Environmental Science and extensive experience in microbial ecology, molecular microbiology, and omics-based research. Expertise spans microbial culture, nucleic acid extraction, molecular assays, and next-generation sequencing. Research experience includes microbiome profiling, microbial source tracking, resistome analysis, and translating microbiome and transcriptomic findings into biological insights across environmental and applied microbial systems.
Overview
2
2
Languages
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Research Scientist
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
06.2025 - Current
- Promote microbial source-tracking technologies through technical presentations and outreach to local governments, water-resource agencies, and professionals, fostering collaborations and pursuing government funding opportunities.
- Manage laboratory operations, including inventory, procurement, instrument maintenance, EHS compliance, SOPs, funding accounts, and lab training, in coordination with the departmental business office.
- Conduct laboratory experiments, analyze data, and prepare project reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
- Deliver lectures and hands-on laboratory instruction in biosafety, aseptic technique, microbiology, and molecular biology to undergraduate and graduate students.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
11.2023 - 05.2025
- Led microbiome studies using qPCR/ddPCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and omics approaches.
- Evaluated clay-based materials as potential antibiotic alternatives using bacterial culture and RNA-seq to characterize virulence-factor responses in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium perfringens.
- Developed molecular biomarkers for microbial source identification and performed microbial source-tracking, resistome, and pathogen profiling in environmental samples.
- Managed concurrent research projects and trained junior researchers in aseptic technique, nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR/ddPCR, and microbiome data analysis.
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC
08.2021 - 11.2023
- Profiled root-associated microbiomes under drought stress using high-throughput sequencing and multivariate community analysis, identifying microbial signatures that inform plant stress response strategies.
- Integrated soil physicochemical measurements with shotgun metagenomics to elucidate microbiome-mediated mechanisms driving treatment effects across contrasting soil systems.
- Contributed to development of multi-amplicon qPCR standards for quantifying nitrifying and denitrifying microbial populations, supporting robust and cost-effective molecular measurements.
- Mentored graduate students in molecular biology, high-throughput sequencing, and microbiome data analysis, enhancing their research competency and project outcomes.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
08.2017 - 07.2021
- Executed microbial ecology studies across multi-site field experiments, integrating qPCR-based functional gene quantification, microbial community profiling, and soil physicochemical measurements to assess treatment-driven changes in nitrogen-cycling microbiomes.
- Coordinated field and laboratory workflows for multiple research teams and sites, managing experimental logistics, sample processing, data integration, and collaboration communication.
- Collaborated with faculty on grant writing, contributing to successful funding proposals.
Graduate Research Assistant
Nanjing University
Nanjing, China
09.2014 - 06.2017
- Characterized airborne and wastewater microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes using 16S amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, linking microbial profiles to environmental and public-health-relevant sources.
- Conducted literature reviews to support research projects and inform methodologies.
Education
Ph.D. - Plant, Soil & Environmental Science
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN07-2021
Master of Science - Environmental Science
Nanjing University
Nanjing, China06-2017
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Engineering
China Jiliang University
Hangzhou, China06-2014
Skills
- Wet Lab: BSL-2 laboratory experience; bacterial culture; aseptic technique; nucleic acid extraction; PCR; qPCR; RT-qPCR; ddPCR; gel electrophoresis
- Microbiome & Omics: 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing; functional gene amplicon sequencing; Illumina and Oxford Nanopore shotgun metagenomics; RNA-seq
- Bioinformatics & Data Analysis: Microbial community profiling; resistome analysis; multivariate analysis; statistical analysis; data visualization
- Scientific Writing & Communication: Peer-reviewed manuscripts; technical reports; research proposals; scientific presentations
- Laboratory Management: Inventory and procurement; instrument maintenance; EHS compliance; SOP management; business office liaison; training and mentoring
Accomplishments
- Publications & Impact: 14 peer-reviewed articles, 1 technical report, 1 book chapter, and 1 popular science article; 324 Google Scholar citations (Sep 2026).
- Conference Presentations: 9 oral and poster presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
Languages
English
Full Professional
Chinese (Mandarin)
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Assistant Research Scientist
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University
06.2025 - Current
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University
11.2023 - 05.2025
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
North Carolina State University
08.2021 - 11.2023
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Tennessee
08.2017 - 07.2021
Graduate Research Assistant
Nanjing University
09.2014 - 06.2017
Ph.D. - Plant, Soil & Environmental Science
University of Tennessee
Master of Science - Environmental Science
Nanjing University
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Engineering
China Jiliang University
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- Hu, J., Blazier, C., Gitter, A., Gregory, L., & Gentry, T. (2025). How sequencing technology shapes our understanding of river water microbiomes and resistomes: a comparative study. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
- Hu, J., Shi, W., Cyle, K. T., & Yuan, W. (2025). Metagenomic evidence clarifies the cascading effects of organic degradation on soil hypoxic porosity and nitrous oxide emission. Frontiers in Microbiology.
- Hu, J., Cyle, K. T., Miller, G., & Shi, W. (2023). Water deficits shape the microbiome of Bermudagrass roots to be Actinobacteria rich. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 99(5), fiad036.
- Hu, J., Miller, G., & Shi, W. (2023). Abundance, diversity, and composition of root-associated microbial communities varied with tall fescue cultivars under water deficit. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 1078836.
- Hu, J., Jin, V. L., Konkel, J. Y., Schaeffer, S. M., Schneider, L. G., & DeBruyn, J. M. (2021). Soil health management enhances microbial nitrogen cycling capacity and activity. Msphere, 6(1), 10-1128.
- Hu, J., Zhao, F., Zhang, X. X., Li, K., Li, C., Ye, L., & Li, M. (2018). Metagenomic profiling of ARGs in airborne particulate matters during a severe smog event. Science of the Total Environment, 615, 1332-1340.
- Hu, J. “Transcriptomic and Virulence Factor Responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Clay-Based Antimicrobials.” American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, June 2026.
- Hu, J. “Water Deficits Shape the Microbiome of Bermudagrass Roots to be Actinobacteria Rich”. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings, November 2022, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
- Hu, J. “Long term conservation agricultural management affects abundance and activity of nitrogen cycling microbes”. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings (Virtual), November 2020, USA.
- Hu, J. “Airborne microbiome and resistome in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)”. The International Conference on Environmental Pollution & Health, May 2017. Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Honors & Awards
- Graduate Student with Professional Promise in Environmental & Soil Science, University of Tennessee, 2021
- China–UT PhD Fellowship, 2017–2021