Yunqing Jian, a temporary researcher at the University of Michigan, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the smuggling of biological materials into the United States. The 33-year-old researcher entered her plea on November 12, 2025, and will not face additional jail time beyond the five months she has already served. U.S. District Judge Susan DeClercq characterized the case as unusual, highlighting Jian's credentials as an accomplished researcher.

Jian was arrested in June after being accused of conspiring with her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, to study the pathogen Fusarium graminearum, which poses a threat to crops such as wheat, barley, maize, and rice. Liu was apprehended at a Detroit airport in 2024 while carrying samples of the fungus. Both Jian and Liu had specialized in researching this pathogen in China, which is known to be prevalent in U.S. agricultural fields under certain environmental conditions. However, the importation of this pathogen into the U.S. is illegal without a government permit, which Jian's university did not possess.

Michael Martin, an assistant U.S. attorney, noted the potential for significant harm from the pathogen but did not provide specific details regarding the risks involved. He remarked, "I don’t have evidence that she had evil intent," while also indicating a lack of evidence that Jian's actions were motivated by humanitarian concerns. Roger Innes, an expert from Indiana University who reviewed the evidence for Jian's defense, concluded that there was no risk to U.S. farmers or any intention to create a more dangerous strain of the fungus. He suggested that Liu's motivation may have been to utilize advanced laboratory equipment.

Martin had requested a two-year prison sentence for Jian, which exceeded the maximum six-month term under sentencing guidelines. Ultimately, Judge DeClercq sentenced Jian to five months in jail, granting credit for time served. During the hearing, Jian, who was restrained, expressed remorse but stated that she felt pressured to conduct research and produce results. In a letter to the court, she clarified that her research aimed to protect crops from disease rather than cause harm.

As part of her plea agreement, the conspiracy charge against Jian was dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea to smuggling and making false statements to investigators. She admitted to asking a colleague in China to send biological material concealed within a book, which was intercepted by U.S. authorities. Liu, who also faces charges, is currently in China and is unlikely to return to the U.S.