By participating in the Department of Biotechnology at National Hu wei University of Science and Technology, you will have access to the most complementary and specialized faculty, the most advanced equipment, and comprehensive educational programs in the country.
Goal: Academic Research + Talent Cultivation + Factory Manufacturing and Marketing = (Industry) Competitiveness
By joining the comprehensive and highly capable Department of Biotechnology at National Hu wei University of Science and Technology, graduates will become professionals needed by industry, including fields such as biotechnology product research and development, manufacturing and production processes, as well as marketing management.
This university is located in Hu wei Township, Yun lin County, an important agricultural production region in the Yun lin, Chia yi, and Tainan area. In order to upgrade traditional industries in this region and enhance the value and efficiency of agricultural products, the research direction of this department focuses on the development of “applied biotechnology research” with regional characteristics and competitiveness. The main development directions can be divided into three major areas: (1) biotechnology detection technology development, (2) health food research and development, and (3) agricultural biotechnology applications, which are described as follows:
Biotechnology Detection Technology Development
1. Development of microfluidic chips:
Microfluidic systems integrate common chemical analysis functions into a very small chip. The functions of microfluidic systems can be applied to biochemical drug analysis, drug screening, and clinical medical diagnostics.
2. Development of inspection and analytical technologies:
The primary focus is on developing technologies for rapid analysis and detection control of the quality and contaminants of agricultural products, food, aquatic products, nutritional health products, and others to ensure the safety management of related items, while also training students in relevant inspection techniques.
3. Development of contaminant prediction and health risk assessment models:
This involves establishing databases of influencing factors related to contaminants that may remain in the environment or agricultural products, and comparing model prediction values with actual values to serve as the basis for future risk assessments, thereby safeguarding environmental and agricultural product safety in advance.
Health Food Research and Development
1. Research on drug development and purification:
Medicines are essential elements in modern medicine for treating diseases and maintaining health. Countries around the world are committed to the research and development of new drugs. Therefore, drug development and purification play important roles in biotechnology. The research and development focus of this department is to understand drug structures, properties, and drug release mechanisms, while establishing purification methods.
2. Development of health and functional foods:
Health foods and functional foods are important components of “preventive medicine.” Plants and microorganisms contain many health-promoting components, and the development of effective health foods using biotechnology is a key research focus. Research in this department focuses on the development of health and functional foods using primary and secondary metabolites from Monascus, natto bacteria, sesame, coix seed, cactus fruit, aloe, and Chinese herbal medicines. It also includes the development of bee-related products and the development and application of useful proteins from royal jelly.
3. Development and application of Chinese herbal medicines:
The Yun lin region is an important cultivation area for Chinese herbal medicinal plants in Taiwan. Large areas of herbal plant cultivation exist in Hu wei Township, Gu keng Township, and Dong shih Township. Several herbal medicine companies have also established source plant cultivation bases in the county. Current faculty members in this department are engaged in industry–academia cooperation with enterprises regarding ramie, long-leaf goji berry, and Isatis root, which will be among the future research priorities.
4. Development of immune function detection technologies:
This research primarily investigates the role of innate immune responses in the sensitization process of allergic diseases and establishes and develops in vivo and in vitro platforms for detecting the anti-allergic functions of natural substances.
Agricultural Biotechnology Applications
1. Development and application of biodegradable materials:
To promote the development of environmentally friendly agriculture, this department will develop biodegradable plastics formed by combining microbial-produced polyester substances polyhydroxy-alkanoate (PHA) with chitin or plant cellulose. These materials will replace petrochemical plastic raw materials currently used for crop seedlings and plant cultivation, as well as support the development of water-soluble polymer pesticide encapsulation technology.
2. Development and application of useful plant genes:
Future research in this department will focus on the Taiwan-specific fig genus plant “Ai yu.” The extracellular enzymes in its fruit have industrial application value and can be used in the food industry, antimicrobial applications, and agriculture. Another major research focus is pineapple, a major agricultural product in the Yun lin region. Pineapple stems and fruits contain many enzymes, functional proteins, and plant secondary metabolites, which form an important focus of plant gene research in this department while also aligning with regional industrial characteristics.
3. Molecular breeding and cultivation research:
Yun lin County is an important production area for Oncidium orchids and Phalaenopsis orchids in Taiwan. The department’s research and application focus includes the development of techniques to control variation in Phalaenopsis meristem seedlings, virus-free healthy seedlings, new variety breeding, flowering period regulation of Oncidium orchids, and breeding of disease-resistant new varieties. The department hopes to contribute concretely to the development of the floriculture industry in the Yun lin region.
4. Application and development of microorganisms:
The central region of Taiwan is a major agricultural area and is often referred to as the center of fruits and vegetables. Supporting organic industries, high-quality agricultural product industries, Chinese herbal plant cultivation policies, and public food health has become a development priority in many countries. Therefore, this department will develop microbial applications in these areas, such as microbial agents (biopesticides) and environmental restoration or protection formulations, to meet future demands for professionals in the biopesticide and environmental protection industries. In addition, the department actively develops natural biological agents that may replace pesticides, growth hormones, and antibiotics, thereby creating a safe, non-toxic, high-quality agricultural industry.
5. Research on plant–microorganism interactions:
Beneficial microorganisms (biofertilizers) can effectively promote crop growth and increase yields. To explore how beneficial microorganisms interact with plants at the molecular level, the department uses rice and corn as materials and applies biochemical detection and genetic mutation library analysis to investigate the mechanisms of interaction between beneficial microorganisms and crops, thereby enabling further understanding of the roles played by different plant proteins.