Subject Areas

Breaking down traditional disciplinary silos, AoLNS restructures all inherited programmes from the former School of Science and Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy into six interdisciplinary subject areas, building a unified theme-driven integrated learning ecosystem. Each subject area is led by a Subject Area Head, who oversees curriculum design, teaching quality control, AI-enabled pedagogy and industrial scenario integration. Subject Area Heads coordinate Programme Directors, teaching teams, and industrial training resources to connect classroom theory with real-world industry practice, training interdisciplinary talent for the biomedicine, digital health, environmental science, and advanced materials sectors.

Subject Area Heads focus fully on teaching leadership, including module development, assessment oversight, faculty induction and student academic support, ensuring consistent, internationally aligned curricula tailored to real corporate workforce demands.

Six Subject Areas

1. Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)

This subject area explores fundamental life mechanisms spanning molecular, cellular, and systemic physiology, as well as human health. Students build a robust foundation in modern bioscience through applied training in biomedical diagnostics and novel therapeutics, incorporating research ethics and translational science modules. Practical training is delivered via on-campus biological labs and animal facilities, preparing graduates for translational R&D roles in healthcare and biotechnology.

Head: Dr Yongtao Zhu (Email: Yongtao.Zhu@xjtlu.edu.cn)

2. Chemistry and Materials Science (CMS)

Covering core chemical principles and advanced materials engineering, this subject area addresses global challenges, including renewable energy, nanotechnology, biomaterials, and environmental sustainability. It combines wet lab practice with molecular design and AI-aided drug/material discovery, aligning with corporate R&D roles in green chemistry and pharmaceutical carrier development. Practical sessions are held in the chemical and pharmaceutical labs and the Advanced Materials Research Centre to train graduates capable of solving cutting-edge drug and sustainability challenges.

Head: Professor Xiaotai Wang (Email: Xiaotai.Wang@xjtlu.edu.cn)

3. Pharmacy and Biopharmaceutical Engineering (PBE)

Integrating pharmaceutical science with manufacturing engineering, this subject area covers the full drug lifecycle: discovery, formulation, continuous production and global regulatory compliance. Teaching mirrors complete corporate functional workflows for R&D, technical support, quality assurance and corporate operations. Students learn the full scientific and industrial processes required to deliver safe, market-ready medicines, training cross-disciplinary specialists bridging lab research and large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing to advance global industry standards.

Head: Dr Yixue Qiao (Email: Yixue.Qiao@xjtlu.edu.cn)

4. AI, Statistics and Bioinformatics (ASB)

Focused on data-driven computational analysis of biological systems, this subject area merges artificial intelligence, machine learning and statistics with genomics and biological process modelling. Entrepreneurial training is embedded to align with high-growth digital life science sectors. Supported by digital teaching suites, students master algorithmic analysis of pharmaceutical big data and AI-driven drug discovery, developing commercialisable digital biotechnology innovations with entrepreneurial mindsets.

Head: Dr Xin Liu (Email: Xin.Liu@xjtlu.edu.cn)

5. Digital Health and Behavioural Science (DBS)

Drawing on psychology and neuroscience, this subject area analyses human health, emotion and cognition across social and biological dimensions. Curricula target emerging sectors including digital therapeutics and behavioural analytics, training students to design effective digital health intervention tools and extract actionable population behavioural insights. 

Head: Dr Justin Fendos (Email: Justin.Fendos@xjtlu.edu.cn)

6. Environmental and One-Health Sciences (EHS)

Built on the One-Health framework linking human, animal and planetary wellbeing, this subject area addresses climate change, pollution and emerging infectious diseases through interdisciplinary training in ecology, environmental science and public health. Field-based lab projects in environmental research facilities prepare graduates to design sustainable ecosystem solutions for environmental enterprises and public health authorities worldwide.

Head: Dr Li Li (Email: Li.Li01@xjtlu.edu.cn)

Core Features

• Interdisciplinary Framework: Eliminate rigid single-subject boundaries to match demand for cross-functional industrial professionals.
• Industry-Functional Learning: All curricula map directly to corporate job workflows, with production lines, clinical trial suites and R&D offices replicated in campus labs and the MetaLab VR platform.
• AI-Embedded Pedagogy: Deploy cost-effective, updatable immersive virtual training to overcome barriers of restricted factory access, high-risk experiments and multi-year clinical trial cycles.
• Centralised Quality Governance: Subject Area Heads oversee full-cycle curriculum iteration, teaching evaluation, and faculty development to continuously improve student learning outcomes and the alignment with industry employability.