Dr. Guo arrived at UBC in late February to spend his six month sabbatical on collaborative research work with the Biobased Colloids Materials Group (BiCMat).
Dr.Guo is a Full-time Professor and National Excellent Young Professor at Sichuan University in China, where he is currently appointed as the Founding Director of Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces (BMI Center, bmicenter.org). He received his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Melbourne and conducted his postdoctoral research and teaching as a Wyss Fellow at Harvard University. Of his many accolades, Professor Guo has been recognized as one of the most influential and pioneering researchers with more than 100 peer-reviewed research publications in high-impact journals.
To compliment his exceptional science background, Dr. Guo is also an entrepreneur who holds numerous patents in the fields of biotechnology, healthcare, and is the founder of several high-value biotech companies. A few of the projects developed through his work include: advanced therapies for challenging diseases, extracting precious oceanic elements to solve the energy crisis, engineering an artificial virus to create HIV vaccines, engineering biohybrids for bioproduction, developing nanocoating to combat COVID-19, and beyond.
To get better acquainted with Professor Junling, we asked him some personal trivia questions:
- I grew up… in China (specifically in panda hometown Chengdu).
- When I was a kid… I always wanted to be a scientist.
- At school… my most favorite class was physics.
- I enjoy… knowing more about science/technologies, drinking coffee, hiking, and playing tennis.
- The best meal… with parents in a seafood restaurant located in Richmond, Melbourne, before their flight.
- My favourite beverage… different brands of sparkling water.
- Friends know me… a cool person.
- I’m reading… Wikipedia a lot from quantum theory, European history, to Wood–Ljungdahl pathway, etc.
- Important words… in Chinese (天道酬勤) which means ‘reward the diligent people'
- I’m at my best… after an afternoon cup of coffee.
- I’m at my worst… in jet lag.
- The best gift I ever received… a holiday card from my students.
- My favourite music… Natural (Imagine Dragons) and The Nutcracker Suite, Op 71a (Tchaikovsky).
- My hero… Maria Skłodowska Curie
- On my days off… enjoy nature or drink coffee.
- If I wasn’t working at UBC… will explore the great nature in Canada.
- In this position I’m excited… to engage with the faculties, staffs, and students in this world-class university.
- I’ll know we are successful when… other people feel successful.
- Someday… will obtain private pilot license.
Welcome to BPI, Dr. Guo!
