Yang Zhang | Bioengineering | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Yang Zhang | Bioengineering | Best Researcher Award

Xiamen University | China

Dr. Yang Zhang is an Assistant Professor at the State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University. He earned a B.E. in Biological Engineering, an M.E. and Ph.D. in Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics under Prof. Liejin Guo at Xi’an Jiaotong University, and conducted part of his Ph.D. research in microbiology jointly supervised by Prof. Fevzi Daldal at University of Pennsylvania. His research expertise lies at the intersection of synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, biocatalysis and photosynthetic bacteria, including pathway reconstruction, cascade biotransformation, synthetic genetic circuits, enzyme evolution, elucidation of natural product biosyntheses, and utilization of C1/C2 feedstocks and agricultural wastes for fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances and biofuels. He leads several funded projects spanning lignin full-process technology, formate utilization in Rhodobacter species, AI-assisted component optimization and adaptation, valencene and astaxanthin overproduction in photosynthetic bacteria. His publication record includes papers in ACS Synthetic Biology, Chemical Engineering Journal, Nature Communications, Microbial Biotechnology, etc. His h-index is approximately 16, with over25  documents and ~435 citations (based on recent metrics). He has been recognized with provincial and municipal high‐talent awards in Fujian and Xiamen. Dr. Zhang is committed to advancing sustainable microbial cell factories and green production platforms, and aims to combine innovation in synthetic biology with real-world feedstocks to address environmental and industrial challenges.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

Li, Z., Li, W., Gao, X., Yao, W., Zhu, Z., Luo, X., Zhang, Y., & Yuan, J. (2025). “Systematic engineering to enhance valencene production in Rhodobacter sphaeroides.” Bioresources and Bioprocessing.

Zhang, Y., Wang, X., Yuan, J., & Guo, L. (2024). “Multidimensional engineering of Rhodobacter sphaeroides for enhanced photo-fermentative hydrogen production.” Chemical Engineering Journal.

Zhang, Y., Cheng, C., Fu, B., Long, T., He, N., Fan, J., Xue, Z., Chen, A., & Yuan, J. (2024). “Microbial upcycling of depolymerized lignin into value-added chemicals.” BioDesign Research.

Fan, J., Zhang, Y., Li, W., Li, Z., Zhang, D., Mo, Q., Cao, M., & Yuan, J. (2024). “Multidimensional optimization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for carotenoid overproduction.” BioDesign Research.

Yuan, J., Cheng, J., Fan, C., Wu, P., Zhang, Y., Cao, M., & Shi, T. (2023). “Development of shuttle vectors for rapid prototyping of engineered Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 (vol 106, pg 8169, 2022).” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Zhang, Y., Meng, W., He, Y., Chen, Y., Shao, M., & Yuan, J. (2023). “Multidimensional optimization for accelerating light-powered biocatalysis in Rhodopseudomonas palustris.” Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts.

Ziyi Zhong – Catalysis – Best Researcher Award

Prof Ziyi Zhong - Catalysis - Best Researcher Award

Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology - China

Author Profile

Early Academic Pursuits

Prof Ziyi Zhong began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Wuhan University, graduating in 1985. He continued his education with a Master of Science degree in Chemistry at Wuhan University, completing it in 1988 under the guidance of Prof. Zhang Shaohui.

Following this, he pursued a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Nanjing University, completing it in 1995 under the mentorship of Prof. Fu Xiancai and Prof. Yan Qijie.

Professional Endeavors

After obtaining his Ph.D., Prof  Ziyi Zhong took up a postdoctoral position, spending a significant period (1997-2003) as a researcher at various institutions, including Bar-Ilan University, University of Washington, and National University. During this time, he also worked as an associate professor in the Chemistry department at Hunan Normal University from 1995 to 1997.

In 2003, he transitioned to Singapore, joining the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences. Over the next 15 years (2003-2018), he progressed from Scientist I to Senior Scientist, making substantial contributions to the field of Heterogeneous Catalysis.

In 2018, Ziyi Zhong took on a new role as a Full Professor in the Chemical Engineering department at Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT). Notably, he assumed a tenured professorship in October 2020.

Contributions and Research Focus

Prof  Ziyi Zhong's research interests are diverse and impactful. His primary focus lies in Heterogeneous Catalysis, particularly in the design and synthesis of nanosized catalysts for environmental remediation. His work extends to clean energy and energy storage materials, wastewater treatment, surface chemistry, and various nanosized materials, including solid adsorbents.

One of his significant contributions includes research on electrocatalytic and photocatalytic CO2 methanation, as evidenced by a recent publication in ChemCatChem. His work on porous In2O3 hollow tubes infused with g-C3N4 for CO2 photocatalytic reduction, published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, showcases his commitment to sustainable technologies.

Accolades and Recognition

Prof  Ziyi Zhong has garnered recognition for his scholarly contributions, with a total of 19000 citations as of January 16, 2024, and an impressive H-index of 71 according to Google Scholar.

Impact and Influence

Prof  Ziyi Zhong's influence extends beyond academia. He has been actively involved in professional organizations, serving as an executive member of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore. His membership in the Chinese Chemical Society and executive role in the Singapore catalysis society highlight his commitment to advancing the field.

Legacy and Future Contributions

As a tenured professor at GTIIT, Prof  Ziyi Zhong continues to shape the future of chemical engineering education. His teaching experience spans several decades, including courses in physical chemistry and heterogeneous catalysis. Through his research and teaching, Ziyi Zhong leaves a lasting legacy in the realms of catalysis, environmental remediation, and sustainable materials, setting the stage for future contributions in these crucial areas.

Notable Publication