Dr. Xu was awarded 2011 Andreoli Biotechnology Service Award
Dr. Howard Xu was presented the 2018 CSU Biotechnology Faculty Research Award by Dr. Bill Tong of San Diego State University.
Dr. Howard Xu received Cal State LA's Outstanding Professor Award during the 2019 Fall Convocation. Press Release. Youtube video.
Dr. H. Howard Xu, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology
Director, Post-bac Certificate Program in Biotechnology
Director, Incubator Development and Programming
INTRODUCTION
Dr. Xu received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at The Ohio State University. Dr. Xu spent seven years at the biotechnology industry, engaging in discovery of novel antibiotics employing functional genomics, microbial physiology, assay development and high throughput screening approaches. Dr. Xu joined the faculty at California State University, Los Angeles in 2004. Dr. Xu's research and student training projects are funded by grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Department of Education (DoEDU), California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) and California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA).
TEACHING INTERESTS
Dr. Xu teaches a wide variety of courses in the Department of Biological Science. These courses include Principles of Gene Manipulation, General Microbiology, Bacterial Structure and Function, Microbial Genetics, Bacterial Physiology and Bacterial Physiology Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics and Graduate level Antibiotics and Advanced Microbial Physiology and Biotechnology Skills Laboratory (see youtube video). In addition, Dr. Xu provides research training and mentoring to undergraduate and graduate students from Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry & Biochemistry. For his exceptional contributions to Biotechnology Education and Research, Dr. Xu was nominated and awarded the 2011 Andreoli Faculty Service Award by CSUPERB (photo above, presenting the award were Prof. Michael Goldman, Chair of CSUPERB Strategic Planning Council, and Prof. James Henderson, former dean, College of Natural and Social Sciences, Cal State L.A.). Students of all levels are encouraged to inquire about potential research training/mentoring opportunities in the Xu Laboratory.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Leveraging his expertise in antibacterial drug discovery in the biotechnology industry, Dr. Xu has established and is expanding the following research programs:
Novel antibiotic drug discovery employing bacterial functional genomics, chemical genomics, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbial genetics and physiology approaches.
Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and virulence and discovery of therapeutic agents targeting resistance or virulence processes.
Nominated by his peers, Dr. Xu received the 2018 CSU Biotechnology Faculty Research Award in January 2018 by CSUPERB at the 30th annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium at Santa Clara, CA. The award recognizes faculty members who have done significant work and built an outstanding biotechnology-related research program. Dr. Xu's biotechnology research focuses on fighting bacterial infections and the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains with anti-virulence factors in combination with antibiotics. Over the last few years, serving as the Director of Incubator Development and Programming, Dr. Xu has led university initiatives in elevating a regional ecosystem for bioscience innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization. The Xu Lab is recruiting M.S. graduate students and undergraduate students to join the lab. Interested M.S. applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Xu.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Postdoctoral Fellow, Microbiology, 1992-1996, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Ph.D., Microbiology, 1992, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota
M.S., Environmental Microbiology, 1988, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
B.S., Microbiology, 1982, Wuhan University, P. R. China
Phone: (323) 343-2188
Email: hxu3 AT calstatela.edu
Office: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall (ASCL) 356
Lab: Annenberg Science Complex La Kretz Hall room 337 (ASCL-337)
Mailing address: Dept. of Biological Sciences, BS-143,
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90032