Research Bio
Patrick Shih is a synthetic biologist whose research explores how plants and microbes can be harnessed for biotechnology. He is an Associate Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology at UC Berkeley, Director of Plant Biosystems Design at the Joint BioEnergy Institute, and a Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His research is focused on two major areas of research: 1) developing synthetic biology approaches to enable complex engineering in plant systems for applications in agriculture, sustainability, human health, and bioenergy and 2) elucidating the origins and evolution of photosynthesis and carbon fixation.
Research Expertise and Interest
synthetic biology, plant biology, microbiology, evolutionary biology
In the News
Watch a Professor Explain Synthetic Plant Biology in 101 Seconds
Can Engineered Plants Help Make Baby Formula as Nutritious as Breast Milk?
Featured in the Media
“We made all three major groups of human milk oligosaccharides,” said Patrick Shih, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant & Microbial Biology. “To my knowledge, no one has ever demonstrated that you could make all three of these groups simultaneously in a single organism.” This research was posted on Berkeley News.
Teaching
Supervised Independent Study and Research [PLANTBI 199]
Plant Biochemistry [PLANTBI 200E]
Plant Biochemistry [PLANTBI 200E]
Research Review in Plant and Microbial Biology [PLANTBI 292]
Graduate Research [PLANTBI 299]
The (Secret) Life of Plants [PLANTBI 40]
Individual Study for Graduate Students [PLANTBI 602]
Honors Research - Plant and Microbial Biology [PLANTBI H196]
Honors Research - Plant and Microbial Biology [PLANTBI H196]
Supervised Independent Study and Research [PLANTBI 199]
Seminar [PLANTBI 290]
Research Review in Plant and Microbial Biology [PLANTBI 292]
Graduate Research [PLANTBI 299]
Individual Study for Graduate Students [PLANTBI 602]
Honors Research - Plant and Microbial Biology [PLANTBI H196]
Honors Research - Plant and Microbial Biology [PLANTBI H196]
Supervised Independent Study and Research [ESPM 199]
Sponsored Projects for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) [ESPM 199S]
Supervised Independent Study and Research [PLANTBI 199]
Supervised Independent Study and Research [PLANTBI 199]
Plant Biochemistry [PLANTBI 200E]
Plant Biochemistry [PLANTBI 200E]
Research Review in Plant and Microbial Biology [PLANTBI 292]
Graduate Research [PLANTBI 299]
The (Secret) Life of Plants [PLANTBI 40]
Individual Study for Graduate Students [PLANTBI 602]
Honors Research - Plant and Microbial Biology [PLANTBI H196]