Plackett　-　Burman　and　response　surface　methodology　were　applied　to　optimize　the　asymmetric　biosynthesis　of　(R)a-hydroxyphenylacetic　acid　((A)-HPA)　with　immobilized　cells　of　Bacillus　sp.　ULi-Il.　Factors　playing　the　important　roles　in　the　production　of　(A)-HPA　were　selected　based　on　Plackett　-　Burman　design.　Then　the　path　of　steepest　ascent　was　undertaken　to　approach　the　optimal　region　of　the　fermentation　conditions.　Finally,　the　optimal　levels　of　those　main　factors　were　further　optimized　by　using　Box　-　Behnken　and　response　surface　analysis.　The　optimal　conditions　were　temperature　33*C,　proliferation　time　9.3　h,　liquid　volume　18　mL,　rotational　speed　180　r/min,　pH　7.2,　inoculum　amount　2%,　seed　age　16　h.　Under　the　optimal　conditions　mentioned　above,　the　yield　of　(A)-HPA　reached　49.61%,　which　was　increased　by　23.7%　compared　with　the　value　obtained　before　optimization.