Yong Wang

Jan. 2001 - Apr. 2004  The University of Hong Kong, Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, PhD

Sep. 1997 - Jun. 2000  Zhejiang University, Marine Biotechnology, MS

Sep. 1993 - Jun. 1997  Lanzhou University, Biochemistry, BS

2022/02- Present  Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Professor

2013/08- 2022/02  Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Senior Scientist

2012/02- 2013/08  Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Postdoctoral Fellow

2008/12 - 2012/02  King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Postdoctoral Fellow

2008/01 - 2008/08  The University of Hong Kong, Senior Research Assistant

2004/05 - 2007/12  The University of Hong Kong, Postdoctoral Fellow

Committee of Microbial Resource, Chinese Ocean Research Committee

Member, Expert Group of the National Medium- and Long-term Scientific and Technological Development Plan for 2035

Member, the 5th Marine Microbiology Committee, Chinese Society for Microbiology

Director, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Marine Ecology

Editorial Board

Editor of FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Editor of Marine Life Science and Technology

Associate editor of Deep Sea Research Part I

Associate Editor of Microorganisms

Guest editor of eLife

lProgress and Development of Marine Biological Science 70460132 (2 credits, 32 hours/year)

lGenomics data processing algorithms and programming implementation 85991062 (2 credits, 32 hours/year)

lOcean Humanities and Geology (2 credits, 8 hours/year)

Advising

Postdoc supervision: Zheng Pengfei, Alex Barcan, Loi Ngoyun, Zhong Song, Li Minchun

PhD candidates: Zhuobo Li, Yinghui He, Ai Chunhui, Du Yiling, Wang Haoran, Chen Jie, Liu Zhenhai, Zeng Zhikun, Pretty Falena Atmanda (joint supervisor)

Master candidates: Gao Shenqiang, Tan Li, Wang Yunning, Zhang Yunhao, Li Yuzhou, Chen Yizi

PhD graduates: Cui Guojie, Huang Jiaomei, Li Wenli, Wei Zhanwei, Zhang Hongxi, Li Qingmei， Zhou Yiling

Master graduates: Wu Yuzhi, Lu Rui, Wei Taoshu, Feng Ping, Xu Peikun, Chen Lin, Zhao Binghe, Zhang Jiushuang, Yang Yang, Yang Taoran

• PhD graduates: Jiao-Mei Huang, Guo-Jie Cui, Wen-Li Li, Zhan-Fei Wei

• Master graduates: Yu-Zhi Wu, Rui Lu

• PhD candidates: Ying-Li Zhou, Qing-Mei Li, Hong-Xi Zhang

• Master candidates: Tao-Shu Wei, Hua-Guan Xu, Yu-Hang Zhang

Professor Wang has long been engaged in deep-sea environmental microbiology genomics research and the development of in-situ ecological monitoring equipment. He has played a key role in advancing deep-sea in-situ microbiological research, which has been incorporated into one of the 13 deep-sea frontier directions in the Ministry of Science and Technology of People’s Republic of China's 2035 plan. His work has pioneered in situ research and exploration of deep-sea ecosystems, and he has led the design and development of China's first in-situ biological laboratory, the Phoenix lander. As the principal investigator, he has led the Hadal Life Sciences Research Project (Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Category B) and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Key Research and Development Program. He received the second prize of the 2016 National Natural Science Award (ranked 3) and was honored as an Innovation Leading Talent under the Thousand Talents Plan. He serves as the lead of the Twilight Zone of Western Pacific Ocean Ecosystem Research Program under the The UN Ocean Decade  initiative. Professor Wang has published over 140 SCI papers and book chapters in prestigious international journals and holds >10 Chinese invention patents. His SCI papers have been cited nearly 9300 times, and he has delivered over 40 keynote presentations and papers at academic conferences. He is one of the top 2% highest cited scholars according to Standford University.

lShenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Ecological Techniques, 2024/01-2025/12.

lSeed fund for deep-sea microbial research lab, 2022/04-2025/04.

lNational Science Foundation of China, No. 42376149, Methane source in Yongle Blue Hole and microbial mediated processes, 2024/01-2027/12

lChinese Key Research and Development Program,2016YFC0302500, Invention of in situ detection and sensor for study of deep-sea functional genes, 2016/07-2020/07

lNational Science Foundation of China, No. 31460001,Metagenomics study on Jiaolong cold seep in northern South China Sea, 2015/01-2018/12

lNational Science Foundation of China, No. 41476104,Evaluation of hypervariable regions and conserved genes for taxonomic classification of microbes, 2015/01-2018/12

lThe Strategic Priority Research Program B of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. XDB06010201,Biodiversity and adaptive strategies of hadal organisms. 2014/01-2018/12

[1] Yong Wang*, Wenli Li, Qingmei Li, Yingli Zhou, Zhaoming Gao, Dong Feng. Deep-sea carbonates are a reservoir of fossil microbes previously inhabiting cold seeps. Front. Mar. Sci. 2021, 8: 698545.

[2] Wenli Li, Xiyang Dong, Rui Lu, Pengfei Zheng, Dong Feng, Yong Wang.* Microbial ecology of sulfur cycling near the sulfate–methane transition of deep-sea cold seep sediments. Environ. Microbiol. 2021, 23: 6844-6858.

[3] Yong Wang*, Wenli Li, Brett Baker, Yingli Zhou, Lisheng He, Antoine Danchin, Qingmei Li, Zhaoming. Carbon metabolism and adaptation of hyperalkaliphilic microbes in serpentinizing spring of Manleluag, the Philippines. Environ. Microbiol. Rep. 2022,14: 308-319

[4] Yingli Zhou#, Paraskevi Mara#, Guojie Cui, Virginia Edgcomb, Yong Wang*. Microbiomes in the Challenger Deep slope and bottom-axis sediments. Nature Communications. 2022, 13: 1515

[5] Pengfei Zheng, Zhanfei Wei, Yingli Zhou, Qingmei Li, Qi Zhi, Xiaoping Diao, Yong Wang*.Genomic evidence for the recycling of complex organic carbon by novel Thermoplasmatota clades in deep-sea sediments. mSystems. 2022, 00072-22.

[6] Yong Wang*#, Hong-Yu Bi#, Hua-Guan Chen, Peng-Fei Zheng, Ying-Li Zhou, Jiang-Tao Li. Metagenomics reveals dominant unusual sulfur oxidizers inhabiting active hydrothermal chimneys from the Southwest Indian Ridge. Frontier in Microbiology, 2022, 13:861795.

[7] Xiyang Dong#, Chuwen Zhang#, Yongyi Peng, Hong-Xi Zhang, Ling-Dong Shi, Guangshan Wei, Casey R J Hubert, Yong Wang*,Chris Greening. Phylogenetically and catabolically diverse diazotrophs reside in deep-sea cold seep sediments. Nature Communications, 2022, 13: 4885.

[8] Ying-Li Zhou#, Paraskevi Mara#, Dean Vik, Virginia P Edgcomb, Matthew B Sullivan, Yong Wang*. Ecogenomics reveals viral communities across the Challenger Deep oceanic trench. Communications Biology, 2022, 5: 1055.

[9] Yong Wang*, Jun Li, Zhanfei Wei, Qingmei Li, Yingli Zhou, Wenli Li, Jun Chen, Suixue Wang,   Yongzhi Xin, Aiqun Zhang. In situ cultivation of deep-sea water with bicarbonate fueled a different microbial community. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2022, 41:1-7

[10] Tao-Shu Wei, Zhao-Ming Gao*, Lin Gong, Qing-Mei Li, Ying-Li Zhou, Hua-Guan Chen, Li-Sheng He, Yong Wang*. (2023) Genome-centric view of the microbiome in a new deep-sea glass sponge species Bathydorus sp. Front. Microbiol. 2023, 14:1078171

[11] Rulong Liu, Yong Wang*, Gordon Webster*. (2023) Microbiology of deep-sea carbon cycling. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1236593.

[12] Zhaoming Gao, Ting Xu, Huaguan Chen, Rui L, Jun Tao, Hongbin Wang, Jianwen Qiu*, Yong Wang*. (2023) Early genome erosion and internal phage-symbiont-host interaction in the endosymbionts of a cold-seep tubeworm. iScience, 26, 107033.

[13] Hongxi Zhang, Taoshu, Jiushuang Zhang, Qingmei Li, Liang Fu, Lisheng He, Yong Wang*. (2024) Microbial mediation of cryptic methane cycle in semiclosed marine water column. The Innovation Geoscience, 2, 100082.

[14] Hongxi Zhang, Taoshu Wei, Qingmei Li, Liang Fu, Manjie Li, Lisheng He, Yong Wang*. (2024) Metagenomic 18S rDNA reads revealed zonation of eukaryotic communities in the Yongle blue hole. Frontiers of Microbiology, 15, 1420899.

[15] Binghe Zhao, Mucong Zi, Xiaoyu Zhang*, Yong Wang*. (2024) Microbial communities and metagenomes in methane-rich deep coastal sediments. Scientific Data, 11: 1043.

[16] Zhuobo Li, Yinghui He, Hongxi Zhang, Haifeng Qian, Yong Wang* (2024) Biotransformations of arsenic in marine sediments across marginal slope to hadal zone. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 135955.

[17] Ye, Z.C., Huang, J., Liang, Z.X., Liu, S., Lei, J.S., Deng, S.H., Zheng, B., Hong, C.P., Wang, Y., Wang, X.X., Gao, Q., Yang, Y.F.*. (2024) A case study showing highly traceable sources of bacteria on surfaces of university buildings. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 281: 116632

[18] Yang, T.R., He, Y.H., Yang, M., Gao, Z.M., Zhou, J.*, Wang, Y.* (2024) Community Structure and Biodiversity of Active Microbes in the Deep South China Sea. Microorganisms. 12(11): 2325.

[19] Wang, Y.*,Du, Y.L. (2025) Hypothesis for molecular evolution in the pre-cellular stage of the origin of life. WIREs RNA. 16: e70001.

[20] Y He, H Zhang, F Baltar, Y Wang*. (2025) Transcriptional difference of deep-sea microorganisms under different sampling methods. Environmental Science & Technology. 59, 23, 11653–11665.

[21] J Zhang, Y Wang*(2025) A video dataset for hadal snailfish along with the benchmark. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 223: 104517.

[22] Wu M, Zhang T, Han S, Huan S, Jiang Y, Wang Y, Cai Z, Zhou J.* (2025) structure and function features of abundant and rare prokaryotic communities along nearshore to offshore transitions. Environ Microbiol. 27(7):e70144.

[23] Li Y-H, Yang M, Wei T-S, Chen H-G, Gong L, Wang Yand Gao Z-M (2025) Survival strategies for the microbiome in a vent-dwelling glass sponge from the middle Okinawa Trough. Front. Microbiol. 16:1636046

[24] Li, Z.B., Wei, T.S., He, L.S., Qian, H.F., Zhu, Y.G., Wang, Y.*(2025) Genomic potential for mercury biotransformation in marine sediments across marginal slope to hadal zone. Nature Communications, 16:8655.

[25] Yang, M. Zhang, H.X., Zhou, Y.L., Selvarajan, R., Xu, P.K., Gao, Z.M., Wang, Y.*(2025) Viral ecogenomics across oxic and anoxic zones of the Yongle Blue Hole. Environmental Microbiome, 20:119.

[26] He, Y.H., Baltar, F. Wang, Y.*(2025) Seasonal variability in community structure and metabolism of active deep-sea microbes. ISME Journal, 19: wraf124.

[27] Li, Q.M., He, L.S.*, Wang, Y.*(2026) Small proteins from prokaryotes in marine water column at full ocean depth. iScience, 29: 114585.

[28] Li, Z.B., Zhang, H.X., Wei, T.S., He, L.S., Wang, Y.* (2026) Anoxia-adapted Cyanobacteria in a marine blue hole. Appl. Env. Microbiol. e02576-25

[29] Chen, Y.Z., Barcan, A.S. Zhang, J.S., Li, J., He, L.S., Wang, Y. *(2026) In situ swimming behavior of the Mariana snailfish Pseudoliparis swirei. Scientific Reports. 16: 17487.

[30] Zhong, S. , Zhao, B.H., Gao, S.Q., Ai, C.H., Zhang, X.Y., Wang, Y.(2026) The key role of bathyarchaeota in methane metabolism within coastal ecosystems. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 43: 104991.

[31] Barcon, R. A., Carradori, S.*, Samsing, F., Nguyen, N.L., He, L. S., Wang, Y., Barcon, A. (2026) Machine Learning in Applied Microbiology, from Data Quality to Model Validation and Implementation. Microbiological Research, 311: 128588.

[32] Ai, C. H., He, L. S., Wang, Y.*(2026) Correlation of Long Non-Coding RNAs and Gene Expression in Response to Reverse Development of Turritopsis dohrnii. Marine Biotechnology, 28: 142.

[33] Barcan, A., Barcan, R. He, L.S.,Wang, Y.*(2026) Hadal trench microbiomes as models of extreme adaptation and ecosystem function. Communications Earth and Environment, 7: 686.

[34] Du, Y.L., He, Y.H., Barcan, A., Wang, Y.N., Tan, L. Baltar, F., Wang, Y.* (2026) Omics insights: in situ tools shed light on deep-sea microbial activities. Ocean, 2:

1. Yong Wang and Pei-Yuan Qian. 2013. Conserved regions in 16S ribosome RNA sequences and primer design for studies of environmental microbes. Encyclopedia of Metagenomics. 

2. Yong Wang and Pei-Yuan Qian. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships among Acidobacteria subdivisions reconstructed using conservative sites in 16S rRNA genes. Encyclopedia of Metagenomics.

3. Guojie Cui and Yong Wang. 2021. Chapter 5: Hadal microbial communities, diversity and ecological functions. Hadal Science. Science Press (in Chinese)

10+  Chinese invention patents

1. The Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award, 2016

2. National-level Talent

3. Stanford/Elsevier World’s Top 2% Scientists