Assoc. Prof. Dr. Feng-Zhu Wang , Sun Yat-sen University , China
Dr. Feng-Zhu Wang is an Associate Professor at the School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, China. He earned his Ph.D. in Botany from the same institution under Prof. Shi Xiao and has focused his research on plant immunity and mycorrhizal symbiosis. After his Ph.D., Dr. Wang pursued postdoctoral research with Prof. Jian-Feng Li, contributing significantly to CRISPR-based gene editing and plant-pathogen interactions. With over 7 co-first-author publications and experience as a corresponding author, he demonstrates both innovation and leadership in plant biology. His research has been published in esteemed journals, including Nature Communications and Trends in Plant Science. Now leading his lab, Dr. Wang is committed to advancing agricultural biotechnology through molecular tools and sustainable practices. His achievements in plant immunity, stress tolerance, and CRISPR tools place him as a key figure in contemporary plant science.
Publication Profile:
Scopus
✅ Strengths for the Award:
-
🧬 Extensive expertise in plant immunity and symbiotic relationships, critical for sustainable agriculture.
-
🧪 Consistent high-impact publications in journals like Nature Communications and Trends in Plant Science.
-
💡 Developed innovative tools like dual-function CRISPR systems, highlighting technological creativity.
-
👩🏫 Strong academic foundation with continuous roles in postdoc, research, and teaching, demonstrating leadership and growth.
-
✍️ Serves as corresponding or co-first author in multiple works, showing project ownership and contribution depth.
🔍 Areas for Improvement:
-
🌍 Could benefit from international collaborations to increase global visibility.
-
🎓 Expanding mentorship activities and outreach could enhance influence on future scientists.
-
🗣️ More presence in conferences or workshops would elevate public engagement and field leadership.
🎓 Education:
Feng-Zhu Wang completed both his undergraduate and doctoral studies at Sun Yat-sen University, China, a prestigious institution known for life science research. He earned a B.Sc. in Biotechnology between 2009 and 2013, where he developed foundational knowledge in molecular biology and genetics. His Ph.D., pursued from 2013 to 2018 in the Department of Botany under Prof. Shi Xiao, focused on plant stress responses, particularly involving immunity and symbiosis. His educational journey emphasized hands-on lab techniques, scientific writing, and experimental design. Through intensive academic training and mentorship, Dr. Wang cultivated skills in gene regulation, CRISPR-Cas systems, and plant-microbe interactions. This solid academic foundation provided the groundwork for his impactful research contributions and prepared him for advanced exploration into genetic mechanisms driving plant resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses.
💼 Experience:
Dr. Feng-Zhu Wang’s academic career is firmly rooted in Sun Yat-sen University, where he has continuously advanced through roles in education and research. After completing his Ph.D. in 2018, he undertook postdoctoral training from 2018 to 2024 under Prof. Jian-Feng Li, focusing on advanced molecular biology tools, plant-pathogen interactions, and CRISPR gene editing. He contributed to developing innovative dual-function CRISPR systems and molecular assays for plant biology. In May 2024, he was appointed Associate Professor in the Department of Biology. His experience spans project leadership, scientific writing, collaboration, and mentoring young researchers. As both a co-first and corresponding author on multiple papers, Dr. Wang demonstrates a proactive role in scientific innovation and dissemination. His experience reflects a seamless integration of research development, experimental practice, and academic progression within one of China’s leading universities.
🔬 Research Focus:
Dr. Wang’s research revolves around two main areas: plant immunity mechanisms and mycorrhizal symbiosis, both crucial to improving plant resilience and productivity. He investigates how plants detect and defend against fungal pathogens through receptor-mediated signaling pathways and how beneficial fungi assist plants in nutrient uptake and stress tolerance. His work also dives deep into genetic engineering using CRISPR-Cas systems, developing tools for efficient multigene editing and Cas9-free selection in model organisms like Arabidopsis thaliana. By combining bioinformatics, molecular genetics, and cell biology, Dr. Wang aims to understand how immune responses are regulated and how plants can balance defense and symbiosis. This dual focus supports sustainable agriculture and provides insight into fundamental plant biology. His contributions are not only theoretical but also technological, offering tools that can be used in practical breeding and crop enhancement strategies worldwide.
📚 Publications Top Notes:
-
🧪 Nepenthes chitinase NkChit2b-1 confers broad-spectrum resistance to chitin-containing pathogens and insects in plants – Advanced Biotechnology, 2025
-
🧬 A dual-function selection system enables positive selection of multigene CRISPR mutants and negative selection of Cas9-free progeny in Arabidopsis – aBIOTECH, 2024
-
🔍 Hidden prevalence of deletion-inversion bi-alleles in CRISPR-mediated deletions of tandemly arrayed genes in plants – Nature Communications, 2023
-
🍄 Hide-and-seek: Chitin-triggered plant immunity and fungal counterstrategies – Trends in Plant Science, 2020
-
🔗 Split Nano luciferase complementation for probing protein-protein interactions in plant cells – Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2020
-
🌾 Alternative splicing and translation play important roles in hypoxic germination in rice – Journal of Experimental Botany, 2019
-
💧 Natural variation in the promoter of rice Calcineurin B-like Protein10 affects flooding tolerance during seed germination among rice subspecies – Plant Journal, 2018
-
☣️ OsARM1, an R2R3 MYB transcription factor, is involved in regulation of the response to arsenic stress in rice – Frontiers in Plant Science, 2017
🔚 Conclusion:
Dr. Feng-Zhu Wang stands out as a promising and accomplished researcher. With an impressive portfolio of impactful publications and strong academic roots in plant biology, they are highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. A few enhancements in outreach and collaboration could further elevate their global scientific profile.