2015.08-2019.05        Ph.D.    Food Science     University of Massachusetts Amherst

2013.08-2015.07        M.S.     Food Science     University of Georgia

2008.09-2012.06        B.S.      Biotechnology    Northwest A & F University, China

Courses in Food Science, biochemistry, and scientific research and writing

Beneficial effects of whole food/food components on glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism;

Functional food development

2022.09- Now           Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Science, Macau, China

2020.06-2022.08       Associate Professor, Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, China

2015.08-2019.05       Research Assistant, Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

2013.08-2015.07       Research Assistant, Food Microbiology, University of Georgia, Center for Food Safety

1. Liu, Z., Gao, T., Chang, H., Xu, Y., Wang, L., Wang, X., Xiao Y*., Peng, Y*. (2025). Hawthorn leaf and its extract alleviate high-fat diet-induced obesity and modulate gut microbiome in mice. Current Research in Food Science, 101025.

2. Gao J., Xie Z., Wang Z., Yu Y., Zhong T., Yu X., Feng K., Peng Y*., Xiao Y*. (2024) Toxicities of human exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and their derivatives: A comprehensive review. Current Research in Food Science, 100918.

3. Xu, Y., Tong, X., Lu, Y., Lu, Y., Wang, X., Han, J., Peng Y*. Sun, Q*. (2024). Microalgal proteins: Unveiling sustainable alternatives to address the protein challenge. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 133747.

4. Wang, Y., Wang, Z., Lin, Y., Qin, Y., He, R., Wang, M., Peng, Y*. (2024). Nanocellulose from agro-industrial wastes: A review on sources, production, applications, and current challenges. Food Research International, 114741.

5. Gu T., Lin J., Yang J., Mumby W., Peng Y., Sun Q*. (2024) Chlorantraniliprole exposure aggravates high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in mice by regulating gut microbiota and its metabolites. Food Science and Human Wellness. DOI: 10.26599/FSHW.2024.9250079.   

6. Chang H., Tong X., Yang H., Peng Y*., Sun Q*. (2024) Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita) and its bioactive compounds: the beneficial effects on gut microbiota and gut health. Current Opinion in Food Science, 55, 101121.

7. Yang J., Lin J., Gu T., Sun Q., Xu W*., Peng Y*. (2024) Chicoric Acid Effectively Mitigated Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Colitis in BALB/c Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolites. Int J Mol Sci. 10;25(2):841.

8. Gao J, Xu Y., Zhong T., Yu X., Wang L., Xiao Y., Peng Y*, Sun Q*. (2023) A review of food contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and its toxicity associated with metabolic disorders. Current Research in Food Science, 7, 100617.

9. Peng Y., Qi Z., Xu Y., Yang X., Cui Y., Sun Q*. (2023) AMPK and metabolic disorders: The opposite roles of dietary bioactive components and food contaminants. Food Chemistry, 437, 137784.

10. Lin X., Wang F., Lu Y., Wang J., Chen J., Yu Y., Tao X., Xiao Y*., Peng Y*. (2023) A review on edible insects in China: Nutritional supply, environmental benefits, and potential applications. Current Research in Food Science, 7, 100596.

11. Yang J., Gu T., Lu Y., Xu Y., Gan R.Y., Ng S.B., Sun Q., Peng Y*. (2023) Edible Osmanthus fragrans flowers: aroma and functional components, beneficial functions, and applications. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 7:1-14. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2220130.

12. Peng Y., Gu T., Zhong T., Xiao Y., Sun Q*. (2022) Endoplasmic reticulum stress in metabolic disorders: opposite roles of phytochemicals and food contaminants. Current Opinion in Food Science, 48, 100913.

13. Chen G., Wang G., Xu W., Xiao Y., Peng Y*. (2022) Transcriptome analysis of fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes induced by chlorantraniliprole. Front Nutr, 15;9:1091477. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1091477.

14. Wang G., Huang Y., Gao Y., Chen G., Cui L., Peng Y., Sun Q.* (2023) The fat accumulation promotion effects of dihydrxytetraphenylmethane and its underlying mechanisms via transcriptome analysis, Current Research in Food Science, Volume 7, 100534.

15. Cao Q, Wang G, and Peng Y*. (2021) A critical review on phytochemical profile and biological effects of turnip (Brassica rapa L.). Frontiers in Nutrition, 8(459), 1-6.

16. Xu, W., Li, J., Qi, W., and Peng, Y*. (2021). Hypoglycemic effect of vitexin in C57BL/6J mice and HepG2 models. Journal of Food Quality, 1-7.

17. Peng, Y., Gan, R., Li, H., Yang, M., McClements, D. J., Gao, R., and Sun, Q. (2020) Absorption, metabolism, and bioactivity of vitexin: recent advances in understanding the efficacy of an important nutraceutical. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 27, 1-16.

18. Peng, Y., Sun, Q., Gao, R., & Park, Y. (2019). AAK-2 and SKN-1 are involved in chicoric-acid-induced lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67(33), 9178-9186.

19. Peng, Y., Sun, Q., & Park, Y. (2019). Chicoric acid promotes glucose uptake and Akt phosphorylation via AMP-activated protein kinase α-dependent pathway. Journal of Functional Foods, 59, 8-15.

20. Peng, Y., Sun, Q., Xu, W., He, Y., Jin, W., Yuan, L., & Gao, R. (2019). Vitexin ameliorates high fat diet-induced obesity in male C57BL/6J mice via the AMPKalpha-mediated pathway. Food & Function, 10(4), 1940-1947.

21. Yuan, L, Lin, J., Peng, Y*, Gao, R., and Sun, Q.* (2019). Chlorantraniliprole induces adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via the AMPKα pathway but not the ER stress pathway. Food Chemistry, 311, 125953.

22. Sun, Q.^#, Peng, Y.^#, Park, Y. (2018). Permethrin decreased insulin-stimulated AKT phosphorylation dependent on extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 (ERK), but not AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα), in C2C12 myotubes. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 109(1), 95-105.

23. Sun, Q., Lin, J., Peng, Y., Peng, Y*. (2018). Flubendiamide enhances adipogenesis and inhibits AMPKα in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Molecules, 23(11), 2950.

24. Liu, J., Peng, Y., Yue, Y., Shen, P., Park, Y. (2018). Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate reduces fat accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Preventive Nutrition and Food Science, 23(3), 214–219.

25. Peng, Y., Deng, X., Harrison, M. A., Alali, W. Q. (2016). Salmonella levels associated with skin of turkey parts. Journal of Food Protection, 79(5), 801-805.

1. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Title: Molecular mechanism of chlorantraniliprole- induced adipogenesis via FGF10 pathway, PI: Peng,Y., CNY240,000, Jan.2021-Dec.2023.

2. The Science and Technology Development Fund of Macau, Title: The fat accumulation inhibition mechanism study of vitexin via activating AMPKα and functional foods development, PI: Peng, Y., MOP1,646,000, May. 2023-May. 2026.

3. The Science and Technology Development Fund of Macau, Title: Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus plantarum Y-1 and antihyperlipidemic probiotic functional food development, PI: Peng, Y., MOP451,500, Nov. 2023-Nov. 2025.

2021 One paper was classified as the highly cited papers in Essential Science Indicators

2021 Winners of Jiangsu province entrepreneurship and innovation program

2019 Francis Oral Competition Scholarship (First place), UMass Amherst

2018 The Second Award of Citri-Fiber Product Development Competition

2015-2018 Peter M Salmon fellowship, UMass Amherst

2009-2012 The Second Prize Scholarship, Northwest A & F University

Expert for the development of the WHO guidelines on tropical oils (2024). Guest editor for a special issue of Journal of Food Quality and a reviewer for several journals, including Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Journal of Functional Foods, and Current research in Food Science.