The major thrust of my research lies at the crossroads of chemistry and biology. My group is currently working on three general areas with the focus aimed at the elucidation of the mechanisms of novel enzymatic reactions and the design of methods to control and/or regulate their functions.

Hornors and awards:
Camille & Henry Dreyfus Grant for Distinguished New Faculty in Chemistry (1984)
American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Research Award (1985)
Eli Lilly Life Science Young Investigator Award (1985)
NIH Research Career Development Award (1990-5)
Horace S. Isbell Award, American Chemical Society, Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry (1993)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences MERIT Award (1999)
Distinguished McKnight University Professor, University of Minnesota (1999)
Honorary Professor of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong (2001-2007)
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2005)
American Academy of Microbiology Fellow (2006)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellow (2006)
Nakanishi Prize, American Chemical Society, Division of Organic Chemistry (2007)
Repligen Award in Chemistry of Biological Processes, American Chemical Society, Division of Biological Chemistry (2008)
Elected Academician of Academia Sinica (2008)
Tunghai University Distinguished Alumni Award (2008), Honorary Professor (2011)
Honorary Professor, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan (2011)
A. I. Scott Medal for Excellence in Biological Chemistry Research (2011)
American Chemical Society Fellow (2014)
Arthur C. Cope Late Career Scholars Award, American Chemical Society (2014)
Claude S. Hudson Award, American Chemical Society, Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry (2019)
Norman R Farnsworth Research Achievement Award, The American Society of Pharmacognosy (2022)