The Qin lab engages in a broad spectrum of scientific projects, ranging from hypothesis-driven basic empirical research to applied science addressing industry-related issues, such as engineered biological structures and agriculture endeavors. Of particular interest are problems centered on large biochemical complex assembly, artificial biological structures engineered by 3D printing, and integrated pest management. The four Qin lab current research focuses are:

• Biophysical response of 3D ciliated lung epithelia cells to extreme environments
• Plant-pest interactions between crapemyrtle bark scale and crapemytle
• Gene editing for plant breeding
• Flagellar assembly and motility, Biosynthesis of linear protein nanoarrays using flagellar axoneme

1. Rahman, TT, Wood, N, Pei, Z, Qin, H, Mohan, P. Effects of Extrusion Pressure During 3D Printing on Viability of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells in 3D Printed Samples. Biomimetics (Basel). 2025;10 (5):. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics10050297. PubMed PMID:40422127 PubMed Central PMC12109332.
2. Taherzadeh, R, Wood, N, Pei, Z, Qin, H. Establishing a Xanthan Gum-Locust Bean Gum Mucus Mimic for Cystic Fibrosis Models: Yield Stress and Viscoelasticity Analysis. Biomimetics (Basel). 2025;10 (4):. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics10040247. PubMed PMID:40277645 PubMed Central PMC12025242.
3. Wood, N, Doria, EI, Rahman, TT, Li, W, Pei, Z, Qin, H et al.. Effects of Calcium Chloride Crosslinking Solution Concentration on the Long-Term Cell Viability of 16HBE14o- Human Bronchial Cells Embedded in Alginate-Based Hydrogels. Biomimetics (Basel). 2025;10 (1):. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics10010040. PubMed PMID:39851756 PubMed Central PMC11763177.
4. Rahman, TT, Wood, N, Pei, Z, Qin, H. Effects of Extreme Temperature on Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells in 3D Printed Samples. Bioengineering (Basel). 2024;11 (12):. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering11121201. PubMed PMID:39768019 PubMed Central PMC11673500.
5. Rahman, TT, Rahman, AM, Pei, Z, Wood, N, Qin, H. Effects of Coaxial Nozzle's Inner Nozzle Diameter on Filament Strength and Gelation in Extrusion-Based 3D Printing with In Situ Ionic Crosslinking. Biomimetics (Basel). 2024;9 (10):. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics9100589. PubMed PMID:39451795 PubMed Central PMC11506300.
6. Rahman, TT, Wood, N, Akib, YM, Qin, H, Pei, Z. Experimental Study on Compatibility of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells in Collagen-Alginate Bioink for 3D Printing. Bioengineering (Basel). 2024;11 (9):. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering11090862. PubMed PMID:39329604 PubMed Central PMC11429095.
7. Huang, H, Lu, Z, Fan, X, Zhai, W, Zhang, L, Xu, D et al.. Urban heatwave, green spaces, and mental health: A review based on environmental health risk assessment framework. Sci Total Environ. 2024;948 :174816. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174816. PubMed PMID:39019287 .
8. Hess, RA, Erickson, OA, Cole, RB, Isaacs, JM, Alvarez-Clare, S, Arnold, J et al.. Virtually the Same? Evaluating the Effectiveness of Remote Undergraduate Research Experiences. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2023;22 (2):ar25. doi: 10.1187/cbe.22-01-0001. PubMed PMID:37058442 PubMed Central PMC10228262.
9. Xie, R, Wu, B, Gu, M, Qin, H. Life table construction for crapemyrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae): the effect of different plant nutrient conditions on insect performance. Sci Rep. 2022;12 (1):11472. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15519-6. PubMed PMID:35794195 PubMed Central PMC9259638.
10. Wu, B, Chun, E, Xie, R, Knox, GW, Gu, M, Qin, H et al.. Real-Time Feeding Behavior Monitoring by Electrical Penetration Graph Rapidly Reveals Host Plant Susceptibility to Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae). Insects. 2022;13 (6):. doi: 10.3390/insects13060495. PubMed PMID:35735833 PubMed Central PMC9224517.