Yu holds a Ph. D in Plant Pathology from the University of Manitoba and spent time as a post-doc in the molecular genomics lab at that university. He also holds an M. Sc. And B. Sc. in agriculture from SWU and Southwest Agricultural College, Chongqing, China, specializing in plant pathology and protection.

In 2008, Yu joined Cargill Canola Breeding Centre as a plant pathologist and led a team working on various research projects related to plant growth, indoor and outdoor yield assessments, and disease resistance. He oversaw and managed the planning and execution of experiments in the crop growth facility at the Centre and has extensive experience with greenhouse processes and procedures, pest control and containment operations, as well as data collection, reporting, and analysis.

In his spare time, Yu enjoys sports, especially badminton, cooking Sichuan dishes, and video and graphic editing. He is also a passionate volunteer. Yu has offered his time and talents as Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, Chair of the Western Canada Canola/Rapeseed Recommendation Committee, and Operations Manager for the Chinese Dancing School of Saskatchewan. He also helps at the Confucius Institute at the University of Saskatchewan.

Yu is a team player with extensive experience managing labs, growth chambers, and greenhouses, making him an excellent fit for the Platform Lead role. He is excited to bring his academic and private industry research experience to advance GIFS goals.