Affiliation: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology

Dr. Feng Cui obtained her PhD degree in Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2006. She went on to be promoted to a professorship at the Institute of Zoology, CAS, and Principal Investigator of the Genomics of Vector Insect and Virus Group in 2017. Her main research direction focuses on clarifying the molecular mechanisms of vector insects transmitting plant viruses, using small brown planthopper and rice stripe virus models. This includes protein-protein interactions between viruses and insects, variation of viral genomes during transmission, and the functions of saliva proteins in viral transmission. Dr. Cui has published more than 50 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, such as Protein & Cell, eLife, New Phytologist, and mBio. She also serves as a Council member and Director of the Committee of Insect Comparative Immunology and Interactions for the Entomological Society of China.