Xingmin Sun, PhD

Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine

Contact Info

• Office: MDC 3523
• Academic Email: sun5@usf.edu
• Academic Phone: (813) 974-4553
• View My C.V. | View My Website | View My Lab Site

Education

Biography

Dr. Xingmin Sun (http://www.sunlab-usf.com/) is a tenured Professor with early promotion in the Department of Molecular Medicine at the Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida (USF). He also holds affiliate appointments in the Departments of Internal Medicine, Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry, and USF Genomics. Dr. Sun earned his Ph.D. in Natural Sciences (magna cum laude) from the University of Kiel, Germany, followed by postdoctoral training in Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry at Brown University. His research centers on microbial pathogenesis and host–pathogen interactions, with particular emphasis on Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) pathogenesis and the development of novel therapeutics—including vaccines—to prevent and treat C. difficile infection (CDI). The research in his lab has been published in Nature Communications, Molecular Cell, Cell Discov, mBio, Emerg Microbes Infect, Frontiers in Immunology, FEMS Microbiol Rev. Environmental Microbiology, Infection and Immunity, and other journals. Dr. Sun is nationally and internationally recognized for his contributions to CDI vaccine and therapeutic development and for advancing the understanding of C. difficile pathogenesis. His work has been continuously funded by the NIH since 2012. He has served extensively on NIH study sections, including as chair, and reviewed grants for major funding agencies in the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Switzerland. He is an Associate Editor for Microbiological Research and Frontiers in Immunology and serves on the editorial boards of Infection and Immunity and Applied and Environmental Microbiology. His honors include the Tufts Institute for Innovation Inaugural Award (2014), USF Faculty Outstanding Research Achievement Award (2018 and 2025), and USF Excellence in Innovation Award (2020). He chaired the USF College of Medicine Research Committee (2019–2020) and has held multiple leadership roles in the USF Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). In 2025, he was elected a Senior Member of NAI. In his spare time, he enjoys music, working out, and exploring cuisines from different cultures.