At 7 pm on November 29, 2021, two doctoral students Zhao Fengzhu and Zhang Tuodi held the doctoral thesis defense meeting at the Tencent conference.

The defense committee was chaired by Professor Shang Peng from the School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Professor Zhang Jianbao from the School of Life Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Professor He Jianhua from the Institute of Advanced Studies of Wuhan University, Professor Shi Junling and Lu Tingli from the School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University. Professor Jianlin Zhao from Northwestern Polytechnical University participated in the defense.

Zhao Fengzhu gave a PhD thesis defense report entitled "Research on New Technology of Serial Crystallography Sample Transport Based on Electrospinning and Rotating Target". This research is oriented to the experimental needs of serial crystallography on synchrotron radiation, innovatively developed a sample transport device based on electrospinning and a rotating target, and established a relatively complete sample transport technology system based on circular motion. During the Ph.D. period, he participated in the completion of 1 National Natural Science Foundation of China, hosted 1 Northwestern Polytechnical University Doctoral Dissertation Innovation Fund, and published 2 academic papers.

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Zhang Tuodi gave a PhD thesis defense report entitled "The Mechanism of Phase Separation Affecting the Process of Protein Self-assembly". Mainly in view of the limitations of the existing strategies for preparing protein self-assemblies, a method for preparing protein self-assemblies using protein crystallization condition screening technology is proposed, which provides a new strategy for self-assembly preparation for protein self-assembly research, and develops phase separation to affect protein self-assembly. The mechanism research and exploration of the assembly process, especially the special model of the formation of self-assembled body by the liquid-solid phase separation of protein crystals. It is proposed that the protein gradually realizes the structure from disorder to order through liquid-solid phase separation after liquid-liquid phase separation. The mechanism of the formation process provides an understanding of the final structure formation process of the self-assembly of the biological macromolecular system. During the reading period, he published 3 SCI articles, 1 Chinese core article, and 1 authorized patent as the first author.

After the defense committee voted, the chairperson of the defense, Professor Shang Peng, announced that the PhD students Zhao Fengzhu and Zhang Tuodi passed the defense successfully, and proposed to grant a doctoral degree. The excellent results of the two doctors during their Ph.D. studies are inseparable from the careful guidance of Professor Yin Dachuan and their own diligence and hard work. At the same time, they have made outstanding contributions to the laboratory. Congratulations to the two doctoral students for their successful completion of their studies. The future path of a doctoral student is more magnanimous and broad!