Dr. Yu has degrees from Fudan University and University of South Carolina. He joined the Danforth Center in 2001 as a Principal Investigator until 2012. He has published more than 120 manuscripts and patents in the area of metabolic engineering. Dr. Yu co-founded Conagen Inc, in 2010. Conagen has more than 200 scientists and engineers in three cities, and more than 40 products in commercial scale production, including the BesteviaTM line of natural sweeteners.